Some are these inventions that were created my mistake are more important than others -- potato chips versus X-Rays. The interesting element is surprise. The potato chip was created out of resentment, but the result was delicious.
George De Mestral came up with Velcro when he tried to figure out why burrs stuck to his dog's coat and to his pants. And Super Glue was discovered twice by the same chemist who wasn't seeking to make the sticky, fast-drying adhesive.
Click on the image to see more important inventions that were created without intention:
Rob Spiegel has covered automation and control for 15 years, 12 of them for Design News. Other topics he has covered include supply chain technology, alternative energy, and cyber security. For 10 years he was owner and publisher of the food magazine Chile Pepper.
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