6 Inventions That Were Discovered by Accident

Some of the biggest inventions in history weren't planned at all.

They happened by total accident. Here are six.

Penicillin

In 1928, scientist Alexander Fleming left a petri dish of bacteria uncovered while he went on vacation.

When he came back, mold had killed the bacteria around it,

and that mold gave us penicillin, the first real antibiotic,

which went on to save countless lives.

The Microwave

Engineer Percy Spencer was working on radar equipment

when he noticed the candy bar in his pocket had melted.

Curious, he tried popcorn kernels, then an egg,

and realized microwaves could cook food.

Post-it Notes

A 3M researcher named Spencer Silver was trying to make a super-strong glue,

but accidentally made one that barely stuck at all.

Years later his colleague Art Fry realized it was perfect for bookmarks

that stay put without wrecking the page.

Velcro

A Swiss engineer named George de Mestral came back from a walk covered in burrs.

He looked at them under a microscope and saw tiny hooks,

and in 1955 he patented Velcro.

X-rays

In 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen spotted a strange radiation passing right through solid objects,

the discovery that gave us the X-ray

and changed medicine forever.

Coca-Cola

And a pharmacist mixing up a medicinal tonic

ended up inventing one of the most famous drinks in the world instead.

The Short Version

Six world-changing inventions, and not one of them was planned.

Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you never saw coming.