While several inventors experimented with cooling, Carl von Linde's 1876 invention of the vapor-compression refrigerator was the first to use ammonia as a refrigerant, making mechanical cooling practical for industrial and home use. Before this, people relied on ice harvested from lakes and stored in 'iceboxes.' Refrigeration revolutionized the global food industry by allowing the long-distance transport of perishable goods like meat and dairy. It also fundamentally changed human health by preventing the growth of foodborne bacteria. By the mid-20th century, the refrigerator became a standard household appliance in the West, altering domestic life and shopping habits, as families no longer needed to visit the market every day. It also paved the way for air conditioning, transforming the habitability of tropical and desert climates worldwide.