Top 10 Accidental Discoveries

Scientific discoveries and inventions aren’t always the result of painstaking and lengthy work through trial and error, eventually leading to the desired outcome. Sometimes (quite often), discoveries that are now indispensable to the modern world were made by accident or as side effects of scientific experiments with entirely different objectives.

For example, the outbreak of the plague led to the closure of a university, which resulted in Isaac Newton taking a stroll in a garden. It was there, with the help of a tree and an apple, that he discovered his theory of gravity. Archimedes, on the other hand, was engaged in an ordinary hygiene routine when his "Eureka" moment occurred, which gave the world the principle of hydrostatics. Alfred Nobel accidentally changed the world twice: after inventing dynamite, he later cut his finger and used collodion to stop the bleeding – this eventually led to the creation of blasting gelatin, also known as "explosive jelly". Much later, in 1888, he read "his" obituary in a newspaper, which began with the words "The merchant of death is dead". The journalists had actually made a mistake; it was Alfred's brother who had died. However, this incident prompted the inventor to reflect on his own reputation and the legacy he would leave behind – thus, the famous Nobel Prize was established.

Medical Discoveries

One of the most important medical and pharmaceutical breakthroughs, which has allowed countless diseases to be defeated, was the discovery of penicillin by British bacteriologist Alexander Fleming. While experimenting with influenza vaccines, Fleming left a Petri dish containing staphylococcus bacteria in the lab for an extended period without proper cleaning. Upon returning, he found that mould had developed in the dish, and the bacteria had disappeared. The mould belonged to the Penicillium genus and contained a substance that inhibited bacterial growth. This discovery led to the creation of the first antibiotic, which has saved millions of lives.

The substance that has allowed socialites and pop stars to extend their youthful looks turned out to be Botox. Initially, it was used by ophthalmologists to treat blepharospasm (involuntary eyelid twitching). However, ophthalmologist Jean Carruthers, who administered a Botox injection to a patient, noticed that the skin around the patient's eyes smoothed out and wrinkles disappeared. Jean tested the side effect of the drug on herself and confirmed its effectiveness, leading to the widespread use of Botox in dermatology.

But while Botox only prolonged external youth, the revolutionary drug Viagra from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer significantly extended physiological youth. In the early 1990s, while conducting research on a new drug for treating cardiovascular diseases, the company discovered a side effect – the test subjects experienced improved erections after taking the drug. The test group continued using the drug after the experiments ended, and the data indicated a prolonged positive effect. In 1998, Pfizer released Viagra onto the market, creating a real sensation among patients with erectile dysfunction.

Technical Discoveries

A discovery that influenced the development of motorsports and the automotive industry occurred when Charles Goodyear decided to bleach rubber and poured nitric acid on it. The rubber not only turned white but also became much stronger and more elastic. The vulcanisation process of tyres, patented in 1844, was named after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.

In 1945, Percy Spencer of Raytheon Corporation was working on radar development when, during magnetron testing, he noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted. After conducting several more experiments, Spencer confirmed that microwave radiation could heat organic matter, and that same year, his corporation patented the new device – the microwave oven.

Shatterproof glass, widely used in architecture and the automotive industry, was discovered due to a fall. French scientist Edouard Benedictus dropped a glass vial containing a solution of cellulose nitrate onto the floor. The vial broke, but it did not shatter into small pieces. Thus, cellulose nitrate became the foundation for the first shatterproof glass, without which modern vehicles would be unimaginable.

Although this discovery pales in comparison to the invention of Teflon or X-rays (also accidental), it greatly simplified and modernised the textile industry. In 1941, Swiss engineer George de Mestral, after a forest walk with his dog, noticed that both of them were covered in "burrs" from burdock plants. Upon examining them under a microscope, Mestral discovered tiny hooks that allowed the seeds to easily cling to fur and fabric fibres. Inspired by the burdock, the engineer developed a fastening system for clothing, based on similar hooks and loops.

Edible Discoveries

Retired Colonel John Pemberton suffered from pain due to a wound sustained during the American Civil War. The company he founded, Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, along with three investors, set out to develop a remedy for migraines and fatigue. The result was a thick, sweet syrup made from coca leaves and kola nuts, which is now known as Coca-Cola.

There are several versions of how potato crisps were invented. According to one, the snack was created by George Crum at Saratoga Springs, a restaurant in New York. In response to a customer’s complaint that the served potatoes were too thickly sliced, Crum cut them as thinly as possible, fried them, and served them. The customer liked the presentation so much that the dish soon became a hallmark of the restaurant, known as Saratoga Chips.

Similarly, cornflakes were invented in the 19th century by the Kellogg brothers at the Battle Creek Sanatorium. They were preparing a dish from cornmeal for their patients but had to leave it unattended for a while. When they returned, they found that the dough had dried out and formed flakes and lumps. Due to a limited food budget, the Kelloggs attempted to fry the spoilt dough, resulting in light, crispy flakes. The dish became popular with the sanatorium’s patients, and in 1894, the Kellogg Company patented it, which remains a leader in the cereal market to this day.