Penicillin's accidental discovery by Alexander Fleming in 1928 revolutionized medicine, leading to the world's first antibiotic and saving millions of lives globally.
1
The invention of the modern smoke detector by Swiss physicist Walter Jaeger has saved millions of lives, and today, nine in 10 homes have smoke detectors installed.
2
The accidental invention of Velcro by Swiss engineer George De Mestral revolutionized fastening systems and is now widely used in various industries, including fashion, aerospace, and healthcare.
3
The accidental discovery of nitroglycerin by Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero led to the creation of dynamite by Alfred Nobel, despite Sobrero's opposition, and the destructive impact of the invention left him deeply regretful.
4
Warfarin, a common blood thinner, was discovered as an accidental byproduct of investigating a mysterious disease in livestock, initially used as rat poison before entering clinical use for treating heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.
5
The invention of the friction match by British pharmacist John Walker in 1827 revolutionized fire-making processes, although he did not patent it, leading to others copying and selling their own versions.
6
Coca-Cola, originally created as a medicinal product, transitioned into a non-alcoholic carbonated beverage and became a global phenomenon under the leadership of Asa Griggs Candler.
7