Accidental Game-Changing Ideas
Some of the commercial products that consumers purchase and use in the modern world were created as a result of accidents, often trying to create or invent the opposite of the intended original design or idea. Some of these “mistakes” can come with a silver lining, at times on a scale that is large enough to change an entire industry. Whether it be a scientist not paying close attention to lab procedural protocol, a chef that perhaps spilled the wrong ingredients into some cuisine, or an inventor that was perhaps misguided in their innovative approach. Modern society should be thankful for some of these accidental ideas and inventions.
Several ideas such as the creation of penicillin, the toy slinky, Post-It Notes, plastics, Kevlar, potato chips, Play-Doh, stainless steel, Viagra, Teflon, cardiac pacemakers, Minoxidil, insulin, and many other innovations have shaped the past, present, and will continue to do so for the future. There are no limits to the creative capacity of humans and it will be an exciting future to behold. Artificial intelligence, will hopefully add to the mix as it gains more capability, efficiency, and consciousness.
Microwave Ovens
What Was Learned
One such accidental innovation that has changed the world, is the microwave oven. The microwave oven is a miraculous machine that can be found within over 90 percent of American homes, providing hundreds of millions of people access to with various types of food within a very short time of cooking and preparation (Wesley, 2018). The history behind this amazing invention is an interesting one. A Raytheon engineer, Percy Spencer, in 1946 was involved with work on a magnetron, which is a primary part of radar propagation systems. While working on the magnetron, Spencer discovered a candy bar melted in his shirt pocket whenever he was within close proximity to the device. Curiosity aroused, he put an egg into the beam path of the magnetron and it was discovered to start cooking, subsequently exploding in his face. Spencer tried various other food types, even making popcorn out of corn kernels (Wesley, 2018).
The Forces That Supported It
Spencer did not know that that cooking with the microwaves emitted from a magnetron was safe. Today, it is known that low doses of electromagnetic radiation are considered safe. When he was attempting to improve upon the power level of the magnetron vacuum tubes utilized in radar systems, he made the discovery with the candy bar (Blitz, 2022). Spencer was quickly able to deduce, after several experiments, that the low-density magnetron energy could quickly cook food. He then developed a metal container with a port that transmitted the microwave energy. A high-density magnetic field was created from the microwave energy trapped in the container. Once he placed food within the container, the food was cooked as a result of the heat generated from the microwave energy. This resulted in an early precursor to the modern microwave that modern households have in their kitchens (Celcook, 2017).
This invention has enabled many families, especially those of limited income, to quickly and expediently prepare meals that would have otherwise taken a long amount of time to cook. This saves money regarding energy sources, such as firewood, fuel, natural gas, propane, etc. The microwave is clean and cheap to use making it beneficial to saving time for other intellectual or recreational pursuits.
Kevlar
What Was Learned
Another accidental innovative discovery and invention involves the super strong polymer known as Kevlar. This creation was created by accident in 1965. Stephanie Kwolek was analyzing low temperature molecule strains and noticed a specific molecule chain formation that was exceptionally strong and rigid. This molecule chain formation was found to be the strongest that any researcher had observed before. A type of plastic that would be strong enough to withstand the penetration of ammunition and knives. This material was described as being five times stronger than steel on an equal weight comparison (Stolk, n.d.).
The Forces That Supported It
Kevlar is essentially a super-strong plastic. Technically, Kevlar is a synthetic aromatic polyamide polymer, which is a distant relative of nylon. Originally, it was made as a lighter weight replacement for the steel bracing in car tires. It is better know for its utilization in body armor, which has saved countless lives. Kevlar is strong and light and does not easily melt. Additionally, low temperatures have no effect on Kevlar, resulted in increased tactical field usage in cold climates and environments. The material is able to withstand exposure to various different chemicals. While Kevlar is know for its extremely high tensile (pulling) strength, it has extremely poor compressive strength (resistance to crushing). This material would not be used in the construction of buildings, bridges, or other structures where there are common compressive forces present (Woodford, 2021).
This synthetic polymer material has been a lifesaver on and off the battlefield. Kevlar body armor and helmets have save countless Soldiers’ and police officer’s lives. It has also improved performance (and also the lives of their operators and passengers) in car tires, brakes, vehicle and aircraft bodies, buildings, and other structures. A quirky trend lately has been in the adoption of tactical clothing incorporating Kevlar. The film, John Wick, comes to mind when thinking of bulletproof suits. In Colombia, for example, customers are purchasing bullet-resistant clothing for safety purposes. These vests and jackets are lightweight, thermos-regulating, and are able to withstand ammunition penetration from 9mm to .357 Magnum (Flock, 2013). Discrete fashion is a key attribute that attracts customers such as President Barack Obama, who wore a protective garment during his 2009 presidential inauguration (Mahoney, 2009).
References
Blitz, M. (2022, October 21). The Amazing True Story of How the Microwave Was Invented by Accident.
Popular Mechanics. https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a19567/how-the-microwave-was-invented-by-accident/
Celcook. (2017, December 29). The Accidental Invention of the Microwave. https://celcook.ca/the-
accidental-invention-of-the-microwave/
Flock, E. (2013, May 10). The Rise of Bulletproof Fashion – It’s No Longer About Safety. US News.
Mahoney, J. (2009, January 21). Barack Obama’s Bulletproof Inaugural Suit. Gizmodo.
https://gizmodo.com/barack-obamas-bulletproof-inaugural-suit-5136183
Stolk, C. (n.d.). How One “Failure” Changed the World: The Story of Kevlar. Edge of Yesterday.
https://www.edgeofyesterday.com/time-travelers/how-one-failure-changed-the-world-the-story-of-kevlar
Wesley, D. (2018, July 3). 10 Life-Changing Inventions That Were Discovered By Accident. Listverse.
https://listverse.com/2018/07/03/10-life-changing-inventions-that-were-discovered-by-accident/
Woodford, C. (2021, July 8). Kevlar. Explain That Stuff. https://www.explainthatstuff.com/kevlar.html
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