
Bubble wrap, invented as wallpaper, failed; later became successful packaging material
Image: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bubble wrap, invented as wallpaper, failed; later became successful packaging material
Champagne
Monks mistook bubbles for impurities in wine, calling it "sparkling wine."
Velcro was inspired by burrs sticking to a dog's fur
Velcro inspired by burrs; invented by George de Mestral in 1941
Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar by accident while looking for a lighter tire fiber at DuPont in 1965
Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar by accident while looking for a lighter tire fiber at DuPont in 1965
Discovery of penicillin
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by accident in 1928
Microwave oven
Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven accidentally
Printing press
Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press around 1440
One email a day: 5 concepts + the 5 stories that matter →
Swipe through 100 ML concepts daily
Open TickerNews