Champagne was accidentally invented — monks originally considered the bubbles a flaw

Bubble wrap was originally invented as wallpaper — it failed and found success as packaging

Bubble wrap: Failed wallpaper, successful packaging

The printing press was invented by Gutenberg around 1440 — but China had movable type 400 years earlier

Gutenberg's press, circa 1440, followed China's 1000-year-old movable type innovation

Beer was first brewed around 5,000 BC in Mesopotamia — some of the oldest recipes survive

Beer originated circa 5,000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia

The first antibiotic penicillin was discovered by accident in 1928 — Alexander Fleming left a petri dish uncovered

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 by accident

What the tulip mania of 1637 demonstrated — the first recorded speculative bubble

Tulip mania showed the potential for economic collapse due to irrational speculative bubbles

The first alarm clock could only ring at 4 AM — invented by Levi Hutchins in 1787

Levi Hutchins created the first alarm clock in 1787, set to ring at 4 AM