MUMBAI:  What do duct tape and instant coffee has in common? or GPS navigation and Kleenex tissues? Prepare to be surprised. Discovery Science brings a new fascinating pop science series Wicked Inventions that looks at some of the most common everyday items that surround us and explores the wicked ways in which they originated.

Like it or not, warfare, conflict and the need to explore the unknown is the catalyst for human progress in technology. The fact is that mankind is at its most inventive when it's being destructive. It’s the same with the field of space exploration. The desire of the superpowers to dominate each other has led them to look to space to gain the upper hand. From that enormous effort and expenditure – all with military and political gain as its primary purpose –came a gamut of inventions we now use in our everyday lives. Premiering tonight Wicked Inventions explores, explains and whole range of surprising gadgets, toys and implements that were originally made for a very different purpose.

Premiering tonight, Wicked Inventions will air every Monday at 9 pm on Discovery Science.

Swiss army knife is such an incredible innovation which encompasses a huge number of capabilities; lots of instruments and implements in a very small device. The idea of incorporating several tools in a small portable unit goes back 2,000 years ago when Romans had their very own version of a Swiss army knife, complete with spoon, fork, blade and the obligatory toothpick. Made from solid silver, this luxury item and the idea for a multi tool became the handy tool of choice for the army personnel.

WICKED INVENTIONS tells the stories of how and why items were invented and how their applications and manufacture have changed, often beyond recognition.