Advances in technology and science contributed to one of the bloodiest and bloodiest wars in the annals of human existence. These new technological advances revolutionized the way people viewed war. War was no longer a place where opposing forces fought in a coordinated battle. War evolved into a game of cunning strategy where the side with the bigger, more powerful, and smarter toys played better. This led to a fierce competition where each side tried to create smarter machines and better weapons, thus leading to deadly weapons of mass destruction. A weapon or machine was created and an even better one was made. New developments such as machine guns, poison gas, tanks and the new strategy to counteract trench warfare affected the way World War I was fought and had catastrophic results. Poison gas was perhaps the most feared weapon of all. Created to overcome the long stalemate of trench warfare, its goal was to bring out soldiers hiding in the trenches. One side would throw the poison gas into the enemy trenches and either wait for their enemy to open fire or die in the trenches. The first poison gas used in combat was chlorine at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres on April 22, 1915 by the Germans. Shortly after, followed by the phosgene. The effects of these gases were terrible. Chlorine was the most deadly because “a few seconds after inhaling its vapors, it destroys the victim's respiratory organs, causing attacks of suffocation” (Duffy). Phosgene had similar effects, except that the effects began to appear after 48 hours of inhalation. In September 1917, the Germans introduced mustard or Yperite gas contained in artillery shells against the Russians in Riga. Those exposed to the middle of paper, weapons and sophisticated machinery, this total could have been reduced by almost half and showed just how destructive these weapons were. World War I technology laid the foundation for even more powerful and deadly weapons such as the nuclear bomb. Technology has made war even more bloody and destructive than it already was. Works Cited Duffy, Michael. "First World War.com - Weapons of War: Poison Gas." First World War.com - A multimedia history of the First World War. Internet. February 5, 2010. “Science and Technology during the First World War.” Shmoop: Study guides and resources for teachers. Internet. February 4, 2010. “Technology in World War I: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article.” » AbsoluteAstronomy.com. Internet. February 5. 2010.