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

The first photograph took 8 hours of exposure — taken by Niépce in 1826

Niépce's daguerreotype, first photograph, required 8 hours exposure in 1826

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

Monks deemed Champagne's bubbles a flaw, but it led to the accidental invention of the sparkling wine

Chili peppers are native to the Americas — they didn't exist in Asian cuisine before Columbus

Chili peppers originated in the Americas, not Asia, pre-Columbus era

The fax machine was invented in 1843 — 33 years before the telephone

Alexander Bain patented the electric fax machine in 1843, predating Bell's telephone by 33 years

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

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

Bubble wrap: Failed wallpaper, successful packaging