Game-changing ideas that came from an error or accident

 

In this document, I will discuss and express my opinion on two game-changing ideas that came from an error or accident. While searching multiple resources for accidental inventions I found out that there are some common inventions highlighted in multiple sources. I will discuss the most interesting inventions, in my opinion, in this document.

Coca-Cola

This invention was made when by a pharmacist, John Pemberton, who wanted to invent a new receipt to cure headaches. He mixed two ingredients: coca leaves and cola nuts. For me, it sounds logical since coca was already known to have psychotropic effects and maybe a solution to address headaches. John’s assistant accidentally mixed these two ingredients with carbonated water, which was the first-known version of the popular Coca-Cola drink. Someone tried this mix, and it had a unique taste. This was the beginning of Coca-Cola drink development, which then was enhanced multiple times with added sugar, syrups, etc. It is exciting how pharmaceutical inventions may be used in the food industry.

Forces that supported it

One of the forces is the need for a new headache cure. There was a need for new headache medicine and multiple pharmacists were experimenting with receipts. Since they didn’t know what mixed materials would work the best, they tried different combinations, one of them was coca leaves and cola nuts.

Another force is a willingness to invent something new in order to earn money and help others. Financial factor is very often one of the main reasons for new inventions. Also, being willing to find a cure for a very important disease/problem is also a very stimulating factor.

 

Radioactivity

In 1896, French scientist Henri Becquerel was working on an experiment involving a uranium-enriched crystal. He believed that sunlight was the reason that the crystal would burn its image on a photographic plate. With dark clouds rolling in, Becquerel packed up his gear and decided to continue his research on another sunny day. A few days later, he retrieved the crystal from a darkened drawer, but the image burned on the plate (above) was, as he described, "fogged." (Orf, 2013).

It is amazing how radioactivity was found. This really is a great example of how an accident may lead to a great invention. Heri was performing research for a different phenomenon and was testing his theory in practice.

Forces that supported it

Scientific support from government and research laboratories was one of the forces behind this invention. Without proper financial support, equipment, resources it would not be easy for scientists to perform such experiments. It may be possible, but it would be really hard.

Another force is a hunger for new inventions. Scientists are looking for new inventions which will boost their recognition, career and help humanity to progress.