<strong>These accidental scientific discoveries changed the world forever</strong>
We all know that years or decades of planned research yield have led to innumerable discoveries that have changed the course of our lives. But there are quite a few inventions that were neither intended nor planned. Some of these accidental discoveries have had indelible impact on our lives. Here is a look at 4 of them.
Penicillin
Inventor: Alexander Fleming
Year: 1928
Alexander Fleming was halfway through his experiment with certain bacteria, when he got stuck during his work and decided to take a vacation. Accidentally, he left behind a dirty petri dish in his laboratory sink. When he returned, he found that the bacteria had grown all over the dish, except where the mold had been formed. This is how Fleming realised that the mold had acted as a barrier against the bacterial growth. He went on to further experiment with it and realised it was Penicillin mold that had synthesized to stop the bacteria from multiplying. This is how Penicillin, one of the world’s most potent anti-bacterial drug was invented.
Anaesthesia
Inventor: Horace Wells
Year: 1844
Till the early half of 19th century, the gas nitrous oxide was used extensively a laughing gas. Once, Horace Wells’ friend ended up injuring himself after consuming consumed too much of this gas. He realised that he was actually hurt long after the injury took place. This is how nitrous oxide became an early version of anaesthesia, or what is better understood as an artificial method of preventing sensation. It eliminates pain without causing loss of vital functions, by blocking pain impulses before they’re transmitted to the brain.
Chewing gum
Inventor: Thomas Adams
Year: 1870
Thomas Adams had been experimenting with chicle, the sap from a native South American tree as he was looking for a substitute for rubber. After a series of failures, the dejected Adams decided to pop his experimental piece into the mouth. He liked it, as he was able to chew it and it was also kind of sweet. Almost a year later, he manufactured a new product that the world had never before heard of. Known as Adams New York No. 1 chewing gum, it was the first mass-produced chewing gum in the globe.
Saccharin
Inventors: Constantin Fahlberg & Ira Remsen
Year: 1879
Back then, Fahlberg was studying coal tar derivatives in John Hopkins laboratory. One day, during lunch break, he discovered what he ate tasted particularly sweet. As a scientist, he was curious, spilled some of it on his hand, rushed back to his lab and traced it back to a chemical compound that turned out to be calorie free. This is when he invited over his colleague Ira Remsen to find more about it and realised it was a white, crystalline powder that can easily be used as an artificial calorie free sweetener, especially in food products. They even went on to patent the breakthrough discovery and named it saccharin.