https://www.sciencealert.com/the-statistics-say-half-of-all-inventions-happen-by-accident

Inventing Accidentally

Introduction

Inventers are those that we regard them with high respect: the bright individuals who imagine that most of us even do not think of (Nield, 2016). However, half of all patented inventions found unpredictably (Nield, 2016). According to Nield (2016) resource, American author Pagan Kennedy, who studied a 2005 survey of patent holders, found that 50% of the patents were found to be a result of "serendipitous" processes that they termed as “happy accidents.” From chocolate Chip Cookies by Ruth Graves Wakefield to champagne by French monk Dom Pierre Perignon, from the Implantable Pacemaker by Wilson Greatbatch to Penicillin by Dr. Alexander Fleming were all accidentally invented. Therefore, several happenings proved that people can invent innovative and new products when they do not even plan for it at all. In the following discussions, I will be discussing about two unexpectedly invented innovations: The Big Bang and X-ray.  

1.       Big Bang

In 1960, astronomers Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias observed some odd and annoying "noise" from their large antenna while seeing the space between galaxies to measuring the brightness of the sky with their radio telescope (McFadden, 2020). They also noted that the strange lively sound seemed to be everywhere they pointed their device. What they had unintentionally tripped upon was the galactic microwave background which is the leftover radiation from the "Big Bang" (McFadden, 2020). They were awarded Nobel Prize for their discovery. Since then, it becomes universally agreed theory that states the universe began 13.8 billion years ago with the Big Bang.

2.       X-ray

German physics professor Wilhelm Röntgen, on November 8, 1895, encountered with X-rays during testing with Crookes and Lenard tubes and started to examine them (Prabhune, 2015). Some confusions happened to exist on his accounts of his invention as his lab note records were burned after his death. It was possibly retrieved through recreation by his biographers. Röntgen was examining cathode rays by utilizing a fluorescent screen painted with barium platinocyanide and a Crookes tube which he had enfolded in black cardboard so that the observable light from the tube would not interfere. Then he observed a faded green spark from the screen, about 1 meter away. He understood some invisible rays souring from the tube were piercing through the cardboard to make the screen glow. Röntgen also found the glow could also pass through papers and books on his desk. It was after that then Röntgen set himself to studying these unknown rays methodically. Exactly after a couple of months of his original discovery, he managed to publish his unexpected invention: The X-ray. 

Conclusion

Necessity has never been the only case for innovation. However, it is sometimes a matter of serendipity. Several of the things we depend on to treat our diseases to heal, instruments that help us to see our world around, the way we prepare our meals, etc. were not created thoughtfully. They were, however, of happy accidents.

Reference

1.       Nield, D., (2016). Statistics Show Half of All Inventions Happen by Accident. https://www.sciencealert.com/the-statistics-say-half-of-all-inventions-happen-by-accident

2.       McFadden, C., (2020). 15 Accidental Science Discoveries That Changed the World.

https://interestingengineering.com/15-accidental-science-discoveries-that-changed-the-world & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPalHdzsImc&t=84s

3.       Prabhune, A., (2015). 10 Inventions That Changed The World, But Were Made By Mistake.

        https://www.storypick.com/inventions-made-by-mistake/