May 11, 2023
NewsPointScottish physician and microbiologist Sir Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered Penicillium notatum mold on a petri dish in 1928, leading to the development of the first antibiotic, penicillin.
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German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen noticed a fluorescent screen glowing through a covered object while experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, leading to the invention of X-rays.
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American chemist Roy Plunkett accidentally discovered a white waxy substance while experimenting with refrigerants in 1938, leading to the creation of Teflon, a highly nonstick and heat-resistant material.
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American chemist and inventor Dr. Spencer Silver's attempt to create a stronger adhesive resulted in a low-tack, reusable adhesive in 1968, which later became the iconic Post-it notes with the realization of their bookmark potential in 1974.
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American chemist and manufacturing engineer Charles Goodyear accidentally dropped a mixture of natural rubber and sulfur on a hot stove in the early 19th century, leading to the discovery of vulcanization and revolutionizing the rubber industry.
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Russian chemist Constantin Fahlberg tasted a sweet substance on a piece of bread after forgetting to wash his hands in 1879, leading to the development of saccharin, the first artificial sweetener.
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Dutch physicist and Nobel laureate Heike Kamerlingh Onnes observed the electrical resistance of mercury dropping to zero at extremely low temperatures in 1911, opening up the field of superconductivity.
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Sildenafil, a medication initially developed for high blood pressure and angina, was repurposed as a treatment for erectile dysfunction after men in clinical trials reported sustained erections in the 1990s.
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Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann accidentally ingested LSD while working with the compound in his lab in 1943, leading to the discovery of its psychedelic effects and subsequent scientific interest in psychedelics.
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