When most of us make a mistake, we are left with a mess that belongs in the trash bin. For some lucky folks, however, their serendipitous mistakes turned into accidental inventions that took the world by storm and probably netted them lots of money. These happy accidents became items that we commonly use … even if the inventor hoped to create something else entirely. Did you know that each of these 20 inventions were total accidents? Let’s hear the unlikely backstories about their origins.
#1: Microwave Oven
Percy Spencer, an engineer for Raytheon, was working on developing a radar system in 1945 when he accidentally melted his mid-afternoon snack – a chocolate bar in his vest pocket. He wondered if microwave radiation was to blame. He brought in some popcorn kernels and an egg. The egg cooked and the kernels popped, so Spencer and his department pivoted from the radar system to creating a new kitchen appliance called the microwave oven.
