100+ Accidental Inventions That Changed the World: Amazing True Stories of Serendipity (a Book for Adults)

By Jackie Bolen

Accidents happen. It's not always a bad thing! Impress your friends and ace that next trivia night with these fascinating, true stories about accidental inventions that changed the world.

 

Did you know that . . .

• The air conditioner was invented by someone trying to reduce humidity at a printing plant?
• The Internet was originally a military communication too?
• The color mauve came about by someone trying to develop a malaria medication?
• Coco-Cola was originally a headache medication? 
• Play-Doh was first developed as a wallpaper cleaner? 

 

Learn the origins and history of 106 world-changing inventions! Check out the fun illustrations for each invention. Maybe even be inspired to create something for yourself.

 

Get 100+ Accidental Inventions that Changed the World and get ready for a seriously informative and entertaining read!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie Bolen
• Release date: Jan 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224215034

Book preview

Chapter 1: Technology and Electronics

We use technology and electronic devices all day, every day. Here are some of the key ones that were invented by accident.

The Air Conditioner

The accidental invention of air conditioners traces its roots back to the early 20th century, with Willis Haviland Carrier unintentionally pioneering the technology. In 1902, Carrier was an engineer tasked with solving a humidity problem at a printing plant in Brooklyn, New York. The variation in humidity levels was causing paper to expand and contract, affecting the quality of printing. In an attempt to regulate humidity, Carrier devised a system that involved blowing air over coils containing cold water.

Unexpectedly, this system not only controlled humidity but also lowered the temperature of the air. The unintended consequence of cooling the air laid the foundation for the birth of modern air conditioning. Recognizing the revolutionary potential of his invention, Carrier further refined the system, patented it in 1906 as the Apparatus for Treating Air, and founded the Carrier Engineering Corporation.

The accidental discovery of air conditioning had far-reaching implications, transforming not only the printing industry but also revolutionizing the way people live and work. It became a crucial component in various industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, and ultimately revolutionized the concept of indoor comfort.

The Bulletproof Vest

In 1864, Dr. George Goodfellow, a skilled Arizona Territory surgeon, was treating a man who had been shot in the chest. To his surprise, the patient survived, thanks to a peculiar layer of silk he had sewn into his clothing as extra padding.

Intrigued by this incident, Goodfellow began experimenting with different materials to enhance the protective capabilities of clothing. His breakthrough came when he incorporated multiple layers of silk fabric into a vest, creating a lightweight yet resilient barrier against bullets. The silk fibers dispersed the impact energy, preventing the projectiles from penetrating vital organs.

This accidental invention marked the birth of the first practical bulletproof vest. Goodfellow's creation soon gained recognition and evolved with advancements in materials and design over the years. Today, modern bulletproof vests utilize sophisticated materials like Kevlar and other ballistic fabrics to provide effective protection for law enforcement, military personnel, and civilians alike.

The Digital Camera

The accidental invention of the digital camera can be attributed to engineer and inventor Steven Sasson, who worked for Eastman Kodak in the 1970s. In 1975, Sasson was given the task of exploring new technologies that could potentially revolutionize photography. While experimenting with charged-coupled devices (CCDs), which were used in television cameras, Sasson conceived the idea of capturing and storing images electronically.

In 1976, Sasson built the first prototype of the digital camera, a bulky device that weighed about 8 pounds. It captured black-and-white images with a resolution of 0.01 megapixels and stored them on a cassette tape. The process involved converting light into an electronic signal, which was then stored digitally. Sasson's invention, however, was met with skepticism within Kodak, a company heavily invested in traditional film photography.

It wasn't until the 1990s that digital cameras began to gain popularity. Kodak, ironically, initially struggled to embrace the technology it had unintentionally pioneered. The accidental invention of the digital camera marked a significant turning point in the history of photography, ultimately leading to the widespread adoption of digital imaging technologies that have since transformed the way we capture, share, and store visual memories.

Dynamite

The accidental invention of dynamite can be attributed to Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, engineer, and inventor, in the mid-19th century. In 1864, Nobel was experimenting with nitroglycerin, a highly volatile and explosive liquid, in an attempt to find a safer and more manageable way to handle it. One day, while working with nitroglycerin and an absorbent substance called kieselguhr, he accidentally discovered a stable and easily transportable explosive mixture.

The breakthrough came when Nobel observed that mixing nitroglycerin with kieselguhr formed a malleable paste that could be shaped into sticks, making it safer to handle and less prone to accidental detonation. Recognizing the potential of his discovery, Nobel patented the new invention as dynamite in 1867. Dynamite revolutionized industries such as construction, mining, and infrastructure development, as it provided a safer alternative to nitroglycerin.

Ironically, Alfred Nobel, who became immensely wealthy from his invention, later established the Nobel Prizes in 1895, leaving a significant portion of his fortune to fund awards in various fields such as physics, chemistry, peace, literature, and physiology or medicine. This act demonstrated his desire to leave a positive impact on humanity despite the destructive nature of his accidental invention.

Fiber Optics

In the 1950s, researchers Harold Hopkins and Narinder Singh Kapany were exploring ways to improve the transmission of images through flexible bundles of glass fibers. Little did they know that their experiments would lead to a groundbreaking discovery.

In 1952, while attempting to transmit images using bundles of optical fibers, Kapany and Hopkins stumbled upon the unexpected phenomenon of total internal reflection. This occurrence allowed light to bounce within the core of the glass fibers, maintaining its integrity and preventing signal loss over long distances. Recognizing the potential for transmitting information through light signals, Kapany and Hopkins inadvertently laid the groundwork for the development of fiber optics.

Later advancements by other scientists and engineers, such as Robert Maurer, Peter Schultz, and Donald Keck, led to the creation of practical and efficient fiber optic communication systems. By the 1970s, these systems were commercially available and revolutionized telecommunications, offering unparalleled speed and bandwidth.

The Inkjet Printer

The accidental invention of the inkjet printer can be traced back to the late 1970s when a Canon engineer named Ichiro Endo was working on developing a new kind