Velcro was inspired by burrs sticking to a dog's fur — invented by George de Mestral in 1941

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

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

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 by accident

Chocolate was a bitter drink in Mesoamerica for 3,000 years before Europeans added sugar

Chocolate: Mesoamerican bitter beverage until Europeans introduced sugar

Crows can recognize individual human faces and hold grudges for years

Crows exhibit facial recognition and long-term memory of humans