Accidental discoveries that made people rich

Accidental discoveries that made people rich

chakufia nini

JF-Expert Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2015
Posts
692
Reaction score
456
Super Glue

backenduser-1-2015-06-25-10-11-54.jpeg

If it weren't for American chemist Harry Coover, we wouldn't know what superglue is. This product that seems to stick just about anything together was accidentally discovered while Coover and his research team at Eastman Kodak were searching for materials to make plastic gun sights.

In 1985, superglue became a commercial product and generated up to $2.5 billion in sales growth. Today it's even applied in health and electronics.

The Microwave

backenduser-1-2015-06-25-10-48-26.jpeg


No one can argue that the microwave has been one of the greatest inventions ever. Since 1945, this product has made food preparation easier and quicker.

However, if it wasn't for American engineer Percy Spencer who discovered that magnetron could melt food (chocolate) while experimenting on an enemy-plane detector, we wouldn't have microwaves at all. Since the discovery, the product has helped Raytheon to turn over up to $25 billion in profit.

Vaseline

backenduser-1-2015-06-25-13-01-17.jpeg


In 1859, Chemist Robert Chesebrough was working on an oil well when he discovered a sticky substance called ‘road wax'. When he took a sample home he realised that with it he was able to create a usable petroleum jelly that he could sell as treatment substance. By 1911, Chesebrough had opened his own business and factories across Europe, Africa and Canada generating more than $75 million.

Penicillin

backenduser-1-2015-06-25-10-15-32.jpeg


One of the greatest antibacterial drugs in the world, penicillin, was discovered by chance in 1928. When Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming returned to his house after being on vacation he found a dirty dish he left while working in his lab investigating staphylococci full of bacteria and mold. At that moment he realised that the mold can actually kill bacteria, and the modern era of antibiotics as we know it was created.

Coca-Cola

backenduser-1-2015-06-25-13-00-06.jpeg


The world's most popular drink
Coca-Cola, was originally intended to be a drink that cured headaches. John Pemberton thought that coca leaves and cola nuts would be the two ingredients that would create the perfect ‘brain tonic'.
The drink we enjoy today, however, was created after Pemberton's assistant accidently mixed carbonated water together with those two ingredients. Thank God he did, right?

Matches

backenduser-1-2015-06-25-13-04-59.jpeg


It is, British pharmacist; John Walker realised he could generate sparks and flames by scraping a dried lump he found on a stick he was using to stir a mix of chemicals. Originally he called his discovery "Friction Lights" and sold the product at his pharmacy. Since Walker didn't patent his invention, other more business-minded people got his idea and took over the market.

Source: careeraddict.com
 
Even whatsapp was created accidentally. Initially they wanted to create a phonebook status tool, but found themselves with a chat application.
 
Even CCM was created accidentally, they wanted to have a better Nation in which people would have lived happily, at last CCM came up accidentally causing atrocities to Tanzanians.
 
Na mungu watu wanayesema tukifa tunaenda mbinguni,
kupitia milango ya dhahabu penye mito itiririkayo,
na mungu watu wasemaye tukifa tunapaa hewani,
yaani kama kunguru, mwewe, njiwa, tai na korongo,
inawezekana, pengine ni kweli,
mimi sijui, sitaki sema uongo.
 
Back
Top Bottom