American Scientist

Medicine used to come in simple, easy-to-open packages—at least in principle. In the 19th century, a bottle of elixir might be stoppered by a tapered cork. A properly fitted cork projected above the bottle opening, thus exposing a gripping surface. Getting to the contents usually involved a relatively easy and uncomplicated motion. In time, the cork was replaced by the screw-on top (with a cork insert), which was considered an improvement in packaging because it provided a more secure seal. However, opening a screw-capped bottle could require a more complicated multi-staged twisting motion. As with all technological change, the improvement came at a cost.