From Oops To Ah-ha!

Humans are incredibly prone to error. Sometimes, our mistakes end horribly, but others end up being a gold mine. From life-saving medicines to household staples, these discoveries show how a little curiosity, observation, and sheer luck can lead to massive breakthroughs that change the course of history. Here are 10 amazing accidental inventions that changed the world.

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1. Penicillin

Perhaps the most important accidental invention in history was penicillin, the world's first antibiotic, which saved millions of lives. In 1928, Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find a mold growing in his petri dish, which had killed surrounding bacteria. 

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2. X-Rays

X-rays were discovered by scientist Conrad Röntgen, who was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895. He noticed a strange glow on a nearby screen which penetrated various materials and, curious, put his wife's hand in front of a photographic plate, showing her bones. 

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3. Velcro

Velcro was discovered by a Swiss engineer who noticed during a hunting trip how burrs stuck to his clothing. He looked at the burr under a microscope and invented a product that mimicked nature, creating an extremely strong fastener that was used in outdoor apparel like skis and other clothes.

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4. Microwave 

The microwave oven was discovered by an American engineer who noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket melted while he was working on radar technology during WWII. He tested the ability of microwaves to cook food quickly on multiple other products before creating a patent for the new technology.

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5. Pacemaker

Pacemakers are small electronic devices that help the heart beat at the right rhythm. It was discovered accidentally in the 1950s by an engineer who was trying to create a device that recorded heartbeats, but he installed the wrong resistor, and the device began producing regular electric pulses instead.

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6. Safety Glass

The type of glass you find on cop cars, banks, and storefront windows was discovered by a chemist in 1903 when he dropped a glass flask coated with a substance. It cracked in a controlled manner instead of shattering as expected. 

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7. Radioactivity

Radioactivity was discovered in 1896 by a French physicist who was experimenting with uranium salts. He noticed that uranium emitted invisible energy on its own, having a huge impact on physics, energy production, and medical treatments like cancer therapy and imaging, like PET scans. 

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8. LSD

The drug that informed a generation of hippies and artists was discovered in 1938 by chemist Albert Hoffman, who was researching fungus. He accidentally absorbed some of the LSD through his skin and experienced the world's first "acid trip." 

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9. Gunpowder

Gunpowder was discovered all the way back in the 9th century in China by alchemists who were trying to create an elixir of immortality, ironically discovering instead one of the most deadly materials. It spread all over the world, revolutionizing warfare.

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10. Dynamite

Dynamite was discovered in 1867 by chemist Alfred Nobel, who was experimenting with an explosive liquid called nitroglycerin. He unexpectedly managed to create a stable paste out of it that could be transported safely, revolutionizing construction and mining. 

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11. Matches

Matches were discovered in the 1820s by a chemist who was experimenting with various chemicals. When he tried to wipe off the end of a wooden stick he was mixing with, it ignited into fire, completely revolutionizing fire starting.

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12. Viagra

Viagra became the most widely used medication to treat erectile dysfunction after it was accidentally discovered in the 1990s. Scientists were testing a drug for high blood pressure when they noticed an unexpected side effect in male participants.

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13. Teflon

Teflon is most famously used to create non-stick cookware. It was discovered by accident in 1938 by a chemist who was experimenting with gases to create a new refrigerant when he noticed that it formed into a slippery, heat-resistant solid.

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14. Vulcanized Rubber

Vulcanized rubber is used in everything from tires to shoes and hoses. It was discovered in 1839 by an inventor who was experimenting with making natural rubber stronger. He accidentally dropped a mixture of rubber and sulfur on a hot pan and found it hardened and became elastic, durable, and temperature-resistant. 

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15. Corn Flakes

The world's first mass-produced breakfast cereal, Corn Flakes, was invented by accident in 1894 by the Kellogg brothers. They left cooked wheat out too long, and it flaked when they rolled it instead of forming sheets. 

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16. Potato Chips

Potato chips were invented by chef George Crum at a restaurant in New York after a customer kept complaining that his fries were too thick and soft. To appease the customer, Crum sliced the potatoes paper-thin and fried them until they were crispy. They became a restaurant delicacy before being mass-produced as a packaged snack in 1895. 

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17. Super Glue

Super Glue was discovered in 1942 when a chemist was trying to create a clear plastic for gun sights. The material he came up with just stuck to everything, proving to be useless for guns but a powerful adhesive that could be used to bond together almost anything.

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18. Smoke Detector

Smoke detectors were invented in the 1930s by a physicist who was trying to create a poison gas detector, but found it kept reacting to cigarette smoke. The technology was refined in the 1940s and 50s before being small enough and suitable for residential use.

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19. Coca-Cola

The world's most popular soda was astonishingly invented by accident in 1886 by a pharmacist who was trying to create a medicinal tonic for headaches. To his surprise, the drink was far too delicious to be purely a medicinal product.

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20. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel was invented in 1913 by a metallurgist who was trying to create a rust-resistant material to use in gun barrels. He noticed that one of his samples didn't corrode like ordinary steel, leading to the development of stainless steel for everyday use, from cutlery to medical instruments. 

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