H. G. Wells (1866–1946), born on this day in Bromley, Kent, filled the world with questions that still make us wonder. The English novelist once said, “Human history is in essence a history of ideas.” His greatest gift may have been to remind us to stay curious.

A scholarship student in biology, Wells worked as a teacher and bookkeeper before letting imagination take the lead. In 1895, he published The Time Machine, followed by The Invisible Man and War of the Worlds. These stories weren’t just adventures; they were warnings and hopes, asking how science might shape humankind’s future.

Wells believed education could save us. “Human history,” he argued, “becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” His words feel as urgent today as they did a century ago.

He dreamed of better ways to live together, predicting global conversations long before the internet. But more than anything, he wanted us to look at the everyday with awe: Every sunrise, every choice, are miracles waiting to be noticed.