In this presentation, we will present a journey on the development of physics of radiation transfer and the related computational methodologies. We will highlight many applications of radiation transfer on fundamental sciences and engineering disciplines. This talk will not be on the details of a single computational scheme, but on the impact of a fundamental area, developed over the decades by different communities, on the society in general. We will first give a historical outline about the use of optics and radiation transfer (light and heat) over the centuries. Then, we will outline a summary of computational techniques for different physical systems used in pre-and post-digital ages, and comment on how some of these areas cross-pollinated other fields.