Science
Accidental discoveries, unexpected inventions, and chance breakthroughs that changed the world.
Did You Know?
Nylon was discovered during research into artificial silk.
Wallace Carothers and his team at DuPont accidentally created nylon while trying to develop artificial silk. The synthetic...
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Brandy was invented when Dutch sailors concentrated wine for transport.
In the 16th century, Dutch sailors concentrated wine by removing water to save space during transport. They discovered...
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Artificial sweetener was discovered when Constantin Fahlberg forgot to wash his hands.
In 1879, Fahlberg noticed a sweet taste on his hands after working in his lab. He traced it...
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Insulin’s medical potential was discovered when research flies survived longer than expected.
In 1921, Frederick Banting and Charles Best noticed that flies feeding on residue from their pancreatic extract experiments...
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Velcro was invented after Georges de Mestral went hiking with his dog.
In 1941, de Mestral noticed burrs stuck to his clothes and his dog's fur. Examining them under a...
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Cellophane was discovered during attempts to create stain-proof tablecloths.
Jacques Brandenberger discovered cellophane while trying to make waterproof tablecloths. The clear film peeled off, creating modern food...
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Zero-calorie sweetener aspartame was discovered when a chemist licked his fingers.
In 1965, chemist James Schlatter was working on an anti-ulcer drug when he licked his finger to pick...
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Super Glue was discovered during attempts to make clear plastic gun sights.
In 1942, Harry Coover was working on making gun sights when he created cyanoacrylate, which stuck to everything...
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The first plastic was invented during a billiard ball competition.
In 1869, John Wesley Hyatt was responding to a $10,000 prize offer to find an ivory substitute for...