Have you ever stopped to think that there are a lot of things out there that were invented completely by accident? Well, some of the greatest inventions that changed the world by accident only happened because someone messed up, left something in the wrong place or simply had no idea what was going on.
Just imagine: you're there, relaxing, trying to create something completely different, and out of nowhere you discover something that changes everything.
Like, a happy mistake, you know? Check out these five inventions that were pure chance, but are still making our lives easier today!
Penicillin
This one is the champion of accidental discoveries. In 1928, a scientist named Alexander Fleming left a plate of bacteria lying around in the corner of his laboratory and went traveling (probably on vacation, because even geniuses deserve a break).
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When he returned, he noticed that a fungus had grown there and, out of nowhere, the bacteria had disappeared. Instead of throwing it away and moving on with his life, he decided to investigate. And guess what?
The fungus produced a substance that killed bacteria! And thus penicillin was born, the world’s first antibiotic. If it weren’t for this “mess” of his, who knows what infection treatments would be like today?
Moral of the story: being disorganized isn't always bad!
Microwave
The microwave is another example of an invention that changed the world by accident.
Engineer Percy Spencer was working on radar during World War II when he noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted OUT OF NOWHERE.
Instead of panicking, he got curious and started experimenting with other things. First, popcorn (yes, he accidentally invented microwave popcorn), then he tried an egg, which exploded in his face (it happens, right?).
And so he realized that those waves could be used to cook food. Now tell me, what would we do without the microwave?
Who would heat up that big plate of food from yesterday without needing a stove? So, thank you, melted chocolate!
X-rays
Thirdly, this is something out of a movie. In 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen was messing around with some cathode rays when he noticed that a fluorescent screen glowed, even when he placed an object in front of it. Like, what the hell???
Then he had the brilliant idea of placing his wife's hand between the rays and a photographic plate. The result?
The first image of a human skeleton in history. Imagine the woman's shock when she saw her bones in the photo? Help!
Thanks to this brilliant mistake, today we have X-rays in every hospital. What a great way to discover something new, huh?
Potato chips
This one is hilarious! In 1853, a chef named George Crum was working at a fancy restaurant when a lazy customer complained that the fries were too thick and soggy.
So, the guy didn't take the criticism well and thought: “Oh, you know what? I'm going to screw this guy over.”
Then he took the potatoes, cut them as thin as possible, fried them until they turned to stone and added salt to make them almost inedible.
But guess what? The customer LOVED it. And that's how potato chips were born, that snack we can't stop eating. Moral of the story: even anger can lead to great inventions. Be careful when complaining about the food, okay?
Super Glue
Finally, in the 1940s, scientist Harry Coover is trying to invent gun sights and ends up creating a super sticky material.
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Like, EVERYTHING stuck to it. And he thought: “What a piece of crap, this is useless.” And he moved on. Years later, he realized that this glue could be super useful for repairing everyday objects. And voila, Super Bonder was born!
In fact, whoever has never glued their fingers together with this, throw the first stone (or the first tube of glue).
So if you're clumsy and always breaking things, thank Harry. He saved your life.
Inventions that changed the world by accident
So, which of these inventions that changed the world by accident left you most impressed? It's crazy to think that so many things were discovered by accident, right?
What did we learn today? That making mistakes can be the key to a brilliant idea!
So, next time you do something stupid, take a deep breath and think: “What if this is my great invention?” What if you discover something revolutionary by accident?