Accidental Inventions That Changed the World

18 May, 2024

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In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer accidentally invented the microwave oven when a candy bar in his pocket melted near a magnetron. His curiosity led to experiments with heating food, resulting in the microwave oven.

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Microwave Oven

In 1968, 3M chemist Spencer Silver created a weak adhesive by accident. His colleague Art Fry found it useful for sticking bookmarks in his hymn book, leading to the creation of Post-it Notes in 1974.

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Post-it Notes

Swiss engineer George de Mestral invented Velcro in 1941 after noticing burrs sticking to his dog's fur. Examining their hook-like structure under a microscope inspired him to develop the hook-and-loop fastening system.

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Velcro

In 1905, Frank Epperson accidentally created the Popsicle by leaving a mixture of soda and water with a stick on his porch overnight, where it froze. He later patented the treat.

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Popsicles

Originally invented as a wallpaper cleaner by Jo McVicker in the 1930s, Play-Doh found new purpose as a modeling compound for children’s crafts in the 1950s, thanks to his nephew.

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Play-Doh

Engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes invented Bubble Wrap in 1957 while trying to create textured wallpaper. They discovered its potential when they noticed the satisfying sound of popping air bubbles.

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Bubble Wrap

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1895 while experimenting with cathode rays, noticing that barium platinocyanide emitted light when exposed to the rays, leading to the development of X-ray imaging technology.

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X-rays