Inventions

Accidental inventions can lead to remarkable outcomes. Many popular junk foods, essential medicines, and breakfast cereals were created by mistake. For example, the safety pin, a useful tool for minor accidents, was invented accidentally in 1849 in New York. Mechanic Walter Hunt was concerned about a $15 debt, a significant amount at that time, equivalent to $600 today. While working at his desk, he began to manipulate a piece of brass wire. This led to a sudden inspiration, resulting in a spring mechanism that securely clasped and unclasped pins. Although clasp-like devices, known as fibulas, date back to the Bronze Age, Hunt’s design prevented entanglement with clothing and fingers. Subsequently, he decided to sell his patent rights, legal registration and ownership of the invention were successfully obtained. The individual received $400, which is equivalent to $166,000. Consequently, the stated issue was resolved. This can be described as a definitive solution to the problem.

In 1938, American chemist Roy Plunkett was conducting experiments to create refrigerant fluids for refrigeration cycles in air conditioning and heat pumps. He was working with tetrafluoroethylene, a flammable gas. Due to space constraints in his laboratory, he decided to freeze some samples of the gas. Upon checking the samples later, he discovered that the gas had polymerized into a solid substance.

Polymerization occurs when small molecules, known as monomers, chemically combine to form a chain of molecules, referred to as a polymer. These monomers can either be identical or composed of different substances. In this instance, combinations of fluorine, hydrochloric acid, chloroform, and water led to the production of the polymeric substance. This invention has facilitated the development of non-stick coatings, pivotal for cooking applications.

Teflon was discovered to be exceptionally slippery, unabsorbable, and resistant to chemical reactions. These properties make it a strong and durable industrial material. Since 1946, Teflon has been utilized in billions of everyday products. This includes cooking appliances, construction materials, and clothing. Teflon helps people cook pancakes without concern for sticking to the pan.

Antibiotics have significantly improved our ability to treat infections. An ear infection can be quite painful, but antibiotics typically resolve it within days. However, there was a time when antibiotics had not yet been discovered. In 1928, bacteriologist Alexander Fleming was at St. Mary's Hospital in London. After returning from vacation, he observed mold growing on a petri dish filled with bacteria. He noted that the mold inhibited the growth of bacteria around it.

This effect was due to a chemical in the mold capable of eliminating bacteria, which he named penicillin. Fleming presented his findings in 1929, but they were largely ignored. A decade later, in 1938, scientists Howard Flory and Ernest Chain rediscovered Fleming's research. In 1939, they began extracting the chemical from the mold. After a year, they successfully produced pure penicillin. The first patients received treatment in 1941. As a result, many bacterial infections began to be effectively managed. The opportunity to harness penicillin was nearly overlooked twice.

The popsicle was created in California by Frank Epperson in 1905. At the age of 11, he mixed powdered soda and water in a cup. He mistakenly left the cup on his porch. During the cold winter night, the mixture froze solid. The next day, he discovered the sweet frozen treat on the stick he had used. Epperson began selling this creation, initially called an "Epperson icicle," around his neighborhood. The treat quickly became popular. Nearly two decades later, he applied for a patent, changing the name to "popsicle." While frozen flavored ice was not a new concept, Epperson's patent was specific. It detailed the exact process of making popsicles, the ingredients used, and the type of wood for the stick. His early patent allowed him to secure a market advantage over competitors. Consequently, the popsicle company expanded significantly and currently sells an impressive 2 billion ice pops annually.