Science
Accidental discoveries, unexpected inventions, and chance breakthroughs that changed the world.
Did You Know?
The electrical battery was invented through frog leg experiments.
Luigi Galvani discovered 'animal electricity' through frog leg experiments. This led Alessandro Volta to create the first electrical...
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The first battery was created during experiments with frog legs.
Luigi Galvani discovered 'animal electricity' when frog legs twitched during experiments with metal. This led Alessandro Volta to...
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Photography was invented through silver salt experiments.
Louis Daguerre discovered modern photography when mercury vapor developed a faint image on a silver plate. This accident...
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Bakelite was created during shellac experiments.
Leo Baekeland discovered Bakelite while trying to create a synthetic shellac. This accident created the first fully synthetic...
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Radioactive iodine therapy was discovered through a hospital accident.
In 1943, a spill of radioactive iodine at a hospital led to the discovery that thyroid cancer cells...
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Safety glass was discovered when Édouard Bénédictus dropped a flask coated with cellulose nitrate.
In 1903, the flask shattered but maintained its shape because of the plastic coating. This accident led to...
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The Big Bang’s background radiation was discovered through radio telescope interference.
In 1964, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were trying to eliminate persistent noise from their radio telescope. The...
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Kevlar was discovered during an attempt to make stronger tire fibers.
Stephanie Kwolek was working at DuPont trying to create stronger tire fibers when she created an unusually lightweight...
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Potato chips were invented when a chef repeatedly sliced potatoes too thin to spite a customer.
In 1853, George Crum was irritated by a customer who kept sending back french fries for being too...