Rudolf Diesel invented a new type of internal combustion engine that relied on 'compression ignition' rather than a spark plug. By compressing air to an extreme degree, the temperature rises high enough to ignite the fuel spontaneously when it is injected. Diesel’s engine was significantly more efficient than the steam and gasoline engines of the time. This invention became the workhorse of global trade, powering the ships, trains, and trucks that move the vast majority of the world's goods. It also powered heavy machinery for construction and agriculture. Although Diesel himself died under mysterious circumstances at sea, his invention fundamentally changed the logistics of the modern world, providing the high-torque, durable power necessary for heavy-duty industrialization.