12 times science messed up—and created something incredible

Credit: Talha Hassan

Innovation often comes from the most unexpected places. Some of the world’s greatest discoveries and inventions were not the result of a planned experiment but rather accidents, mishaps, or just serendipity. From the creation of irreplaceable household items to revolutionary medical breakthroughs, these chance discoveries changed history. Here are 12 remarkable things invented or discovered purely by accident.

Credit: Sandy Millar

In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin when he accidentally left a petri dish of Staphylococcus bacteria uncovered. A spore of mold landed on it, killing the surrounding bacteria.

Intrigued, Fleming continued experimenting with the mold, leading to the development of antibiotics that have saved millions of lives and continue to combat infections today.

Credit: CDC

In 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays while experimenting with cathode rays in a dark lab. He noticed that a nearby fluorescent screen began to glow even though it wasn’t directly in the path of the rays.

This accidental finding led to the development of X-ray technology. Röntgen's discovery opened the door for modern diagnostic imaging and is still widely used in hospitals worldwide.

Credit: The Oregon State University Collections and Archives

In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer accidentally discovered microwaves' cooking potential when a chocolate bar in his pocket melted while he was working on radar technology.

He then experimented with popcorn kernels, further realizing the power of microwaves for cooking. This serendipitous discovery led to the microwave oven, which became a staple of modern kitchens.

Credit: Imthaz Ahamed

Charles Goodyear stumbled upon vulcanized rubber in 1839 when he accidentally dropped a mixture of rubber and sulfur onto a hot stove. The heat caused the rubber to harden and become more durable, which led to the invention of vulcanized rubber.

Vulcanization makes rubber stronger and more elastic, and the process is still used today in products ranging from tires to waterproof clothing.

Credit: Ian Talmacs

In 1826, chemist John Walker accidentally invented the first friction match when he scraped a chemical-coated stick on his hearth and saw it ignite. He had been experimenting with creating a new type of explosive but instead stumbled upon a practical way to create fire.

Walker’s matches were the first to be struck on any rough surface, paving the way for modern safety matches.

Credit: Hugo Rocha

In 1968, 3M scientist Spencer Silver was trying to create a super-strong adhesive but instead developed a weak one that could easily be removed.

Years later, his colleague Art Fry applied this adhesive to paper and created the now-iconic Post-it Note. Who could have guessed that a bad adhesive could become so popular?

Credit: Rob Wicks

In 1938, chemist Roy Plunkett was researching refrigerants when he accidentally discovered Teflon. While he was trying to make a new refrigerant, the gas he was working with turned into a solid, creating a slippery substance that was non-reactive and heat-resistant.

Teflon’s unique properties made it perfect for non-stick cookware. It also found uses in industries ranging from aerospace to electronics, making it a critical material in modern technology.

Credit: Carrie Borden

In 1903, French chemist Édouard Bénédictus discovered safety glass by accident. After dropping a glass flask coated with plastic, he noticed that it cracked but didn't shatter.

This led to the invention of laminated safety glass, which is now standard in car windows and other safety applications, and has saved countless lives by preventing dangerous shards from flying during an impact.

Credit: Giorgio Trovato

In 1942, Dr. Harry Coover accidentally invented Super Glue while attempting to create a clear plastic for gun sights. He discovered that the substance he had created was incredibly sticky, but too sticky for its intended purpose. The compound, called cyanoacrylate, was shelved for being too impractical at the time.

However, when the remarkable adhesive properties of the substance were later re-examined, it was commercialized under the now-ubiquitous name "Super Glue" and quickly became a household staple for all kinds of quick fixes.

Credit: Call Me Fred

In 1907, Leo Baekeland discovered the first synthetic plastic while trying to create a synthetic substitute for natural rubber. His accidental combination of phenol and formaldehyde led to a substance that was heat-resistant and very durable.

In fact, Bakelite marked the beginning of the plastic age. It revolutionized manufacturing worldwide, allowing the creation of everything from household items to electrical components.

Credit: jesse orrico

In 1956, engineer Wilson Greatbatch accidentally invented the pacemaker while attempting to build a heart rhythm recording device. By installing the wrong resistor, he unknowingly created a device capable of regulating heartbeats.

Who would have thought that a simple circuit mix-up would lead to such a revolutionary medical breakthrough?

Credit: Alexander Grey

In 1879, chemist Constantin Fahlberg accidentally discovered saccharin while working with coal tar derivatives. He forgot to wash his hands and later noticed a sweet taste on his fingers.

Curious, he traced the unusual taste back to his experiment and recognized the potential of the new substance. Saccharin went on to become the first artificial sweetener, still widely used today in diet sodas and sugar substitutes.

Tossed-around antiquities

Aren’t we all a bit narcissistic? 12 terms we owe to Greek mythology

Credit: Chelsea Scott

We’ve already explored English words inspired by movies, or derived from the works of popular authors. But have you ever noticed how many everyday words go back to Greek mythology? Sure, we have the more obvious ones—like "narcissist" or "nemesis"—but you might find in this list terms that you didn’t know were so old. Read on!

Credit: Андрей Сизов

Remember the story of Tantalus? He was a king who tried to fool the gods and make them eat his son. Never a good idea! As punishment, he was condemned to eternal hunger and thirst, forever surrounded by water he couldn’t drink and fruit he could not reach.

Thus the verb and adjective "tantalizing" were born to describe situations where something is temptingly close, but frustratingly out of reach.

Credit: Alonzo Photo

We all have a weak spot, and that’s what we refer to when discussing an "Achilles heel." But why? As myth has it, Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior, became invincible after his mother dipped him in the River Styx as a baby.

However, his heel wasn’t submerged during this process. That became the only spot through which he could be wounded. And, of course, that was exactly where Paris shot him with an arrow after his victories in the Trojan War—leading to his death.

Credit: Peter Olexa

The moral of King Midas’s fable is: be careful what you wish for! This mythical king asked the god Dionysus to grant him the power to turn everything he touched into gold. It worked out well for him until he held his loved ones and transformed them into golden statues.

The term "Midas touch" usually has positive connotations, though. We use it to refer to a person whose efforts are frequently successful—not someone who jinxes each of them!

Credit: Noel Nichols

Pandora was the first human woman according to Greek mythology. One day she was set to watch a jar—not a box—her husband owned, which she was instructed to never open. But eventually, curiosity won over her.

When she opened it, out flew all the evils of the world. Today, the mistranslated expression "Pandora’s box" refers to any process that, once set in motion, leads to a chain of disasters.

Credit: Matt Seymour

In Greek mythology, delivering justice was the job of Nemesis. The goddess of retribution, she made sure that those who committed hubris (excessive pride) or wrongdoing were punished.

Today’s meaning of the noun derives from that. "Nemesis" first referred to that fatal flaw that might destroy one, which then evolved to be used about an opponent or rival who seems unbeatable and who might cause someone's downfall.

Credit: Nikola Johnny Mirkovic

Before referring to a sonorous effect, this word was the name of a nymph. This chatty young creature was cursed by an irritated Hera to only repeat the last words spoken to her—a curse that obviously worked disasters for her relationships.

She faded away until only her voice remained. Her story was used to explain the physical phenomenon of sound being repeated, but also to describe any repetition or imitation.

Credit: Art Institute of Chicago

In Greek mythology, the Muses were nine goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences, inspiring creativity in mortals. From epic poetry to music and dance, these ladies were the ultimate source of artistic ideation.

Today, "muse" refers to anyone or anything that sparks the same spirit. It could be a loved one, a beautiful landscape, or even a really good cup of coffee.

Credit: Rodrigo Curi

"Fury" was never linked to any peaceful or amiable personality—not even in Greek antiquity. Erinyes or Eumenides were raging, vengeful deities who punished criminals. In Roman mythology, these were translated as the Dirae or the Furiae.

The English language adopted these concepts from Latin, and transformed them into "dire" and "fury."

Credit: Ashley Batz

This word comes from the story of Theseus, the first person to escape the Minotaur’s labyrinth alive. Young Ariadna helped Theseus find his way out by following a ball of thread (a "clew" in Old English).

Thus the concept of "clue" came to mean anything that helps us solve a problem or mystery.

Credit: Maxim Makarov

Millennia before being a character in the blockbuster The Matrix, Morpheus was the name of the god of dreams. He was often depicted with poppies, the source of opium.

In the 19th century, a pharmacist studying the painkilling effects of opium derivates decided to give this substance the name "morphium," in honor of the mythical Greek figure.

Credit: Francisco Ghisletti

We are not here referring to the tragically sunken ship—although that one derives from this term. "Titanic" is an adjective that describes something enormous and powerful, such as the majestic ship at its time.

The term alludes to the Titans, enormous primordial gods who preceded the Greek Olympians and had enough power to upturn the Earth.

Credit: Sofia Rotaru

Finally, a word that gets tossed around very liberally these days: Narcissist! Most of us know the myth of Narcissus, the handsome lad who fell in love with his own reflection and drowned as a consequence.

Countless authors throughout history used "Narcissus" in the same texts as "self-love," from Shakespeare to Byron to Baudelaire. Later, many theorists assigned varying meanings to "narcissism," ranging from healthy to disproportionate obsession with the self.