The Role of Dumb Luck, Wrong-Turns and Oops in Science Progress

Significant insights inspired by serendipity

Science and serendipity show how much we don't know and how much we don't even know we don't know.

In 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen was experimenting with cathode rays, unaware that he was on the brink of discovering something that would revolutionize medicine. While conducting his experiments, Röntgen noticed that a nearby screen coated with barium platinocyanide began to glow, despite being shielded from direct exposure to the cathode rays. It seemed as though an unseen force had penetrated the shielding, revealing itself in the glow. Fascinated, Röntgen pursued this strange effect, meticulously exploring its behavior until he revealed the existence of X-rays, an entirely new form of radiation that allowed doctors to see inside the human body for the first time. This serendipitous discovery opened a window into the human body, allowing for non-invasive imaging of bones and internal structures, forever transforming diagnostic medicine.

Exploding eggs and melting candy bars

Percy Spencer, grew up extremely poor and had minimal formal education, yet he had a hunger to learn. After becoming a radio engineer in the US Navy, he became an engineer tinkering at Raytheon in the early to mid-20th century, he never imagined he was about to stumble upon a kitchen revolution. Spencer was initially looking for ways to improve radar systems when, unexpectedly, he noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. This was a perfect instance of a 'wrong turn' leading to an entirely new discovery. Instead of dismissing the incident, Spencer was intrigued. He wondered if this effect could be harnessed purposefully. He experimented with popcorn, which popped almost instantly, and even tried cooking an egg, which exploded in his colleague's face. This playful curiosity led to the invention of the microwave oven, reshaping how millions of households around the world prepare food and demonstrating how years of expertise combined with curiosity can yield transformative results. What began as an engineering task related to radar evolved into a culinary innovation simply because Spencer recognized the potential of an unanticipated outcome.

The pattern repeats across history. Often, scientists were searching for one thing and stumbled upon something far more significant entirely by chance. In 1896, Henri Becquerel was studying phosphorescent materials when he stumbled upon radioactivity. After placing uranium salts in a drawer alongside photographic plates, Becquerel noticed something puzzling: the plates had fogged over, despite never being exposed to sunlight. This mysterious effect prompted Becquerel to further investigate, ultimately leading to the discovery of a new kind of invisible radiation, a foundational discovery in nuclear physics. This was a classic example of an 'oops' moment that led to a groundbreaking insight. This accident, pursued with relentless curiosity, paved the way for our understanding of atomic structure and energy.

Stick With It

The world of consumer products has also seen serendipity at work. In 1839, Charles Goodyear accidentally dropped a mixture of rubber and sulfur onto a hot stove. This moment was the culmination of years of experimentation and setbacks, during which Goodyear had been searching for a way to improve rubber's properties. To his amazement, he found that the mixture had transformed into a durable, elastic material, a form of rubber far more resilient than anything he had worked with before. Goodyear's persistent attempts to understand the properties of rubber, paired with this fortunate accident, paved the way for modern vulcanized rubber. Through Goodyear’s unintended experiment, vulcanized rubber was born, a discovery that led to modern rubber tires, waterproof clothing, and countless other products that define our everyday lives.

Similarly, George de Mestral's post-hike frustration turned into fascination when he noticed how burrs clung stubbornly to his clothes and his dog's fur. This discovery falls under what could be called 'everyday inspiration', a significant insight inspired by the mundane. Instead of discarding them as a nuisance, he recognized a unique design worth studying. De Mestral’s years of persistent refinement of this idea eventually led to the creation of Velcro, a fastening system that has applications today in everything from clothing and shoes to aerospace and medicine.

Dumb Luck Meeting the Prepared Mind

Even the domain of pharmacology is rife with examples of accidental discovery. One notable instance is Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin. a true moment of 'dumb luck' meeting a prepared mind. In 1928, Fleming noticed that a mold, later identified as Penicillium notatum, had contaminated one of his petri dishes and killed the surrounding bacteria. This 'that's funny...' reaction led to the discovery of penicillin, the first true antibiotic, which would go on to save millions of lives. In the 1920s, Frederick Banting and Charles Best were relentlessly attempting to understand the mysterious role of the pancreas in diabetes, motivated by the desperation of patients for whom diabetes was a death sentence. Their painstaking experiments on dogs eventually led them to isolate insulin, transforming diabetes from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

In a similar vein, in 1998, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer was testing sildenafil for heart disease, but they stumbled upon its unexpected effects on increasing blood flow elsewhere. This unexpected side effect led to the development of Viagra, which not only offered a groundbreaking treatment for erectile dysfunction but also helped transform societal attitudes and medical conversations around sexual health and wellness.

Harry Coover knew he had stumbled upon something sticky when he initially discarded cyanoacrylate, a compound originally developed during World War II for clear plastic gun sights. By serendiptidous accident, he discovered that this compound possessed extraordinary adhesive properties, eventually leading to the invention of Superglue. Superglue quickly became an indispensable household tool, with uses ranging from construction to emergency medical applications.

Hmm, that’s interesting…

Accidental insights are not limited to isolated disciplines, they echo through medicine, chemistry, physics, and technology. The discovery of the first artificial sweetener, saccharin, by Constantin Fahlberg in 1879, also happened by sheer chance. Fahlberg was working on coal tar derivatives when he forgot to wash his hands after a day in the lab. Later, during dinner, he noticed an unusually sweet taste on his fingers. This 'oops' moment led to the discovery of saccharin, which eventually became a widely-used sugar substitute. Similarly, in 1937, Michael Sveda, a graduate student, was working on fever medications when he accidentally tasted a sweet residue on his cigarette. This serendipitous moment led to the discovery of cyclamate, another artificial sweetener that became widely used, especially in diet sodas. These are prime examples of how unexpected, mundane observations can lead to significant breakthroughs, reshaping industries and everyday life.

Meanwhile, the invention of Post-it Notes came from Spencer Silver's failed attempt at creating a strong adhesive. What resulted instead was a weak, reusable adhesive, later popularized by Art Fry as a practical tool for sticky notes, now a staple in offices and homes around the globe.

Seeing Opportunities

The real significance of these discoveries lies not only in their groundbreaking outcomes but also in the process itself, a process driven by years of effort, deep knowledge, and individuals who see opportunities where others see mishaps. This combination of preparation and curiosity is what transforms accidents into true breakthroughs. These individuals remind us that innovation requires a willingness to explore what others might simply overlook. Whether it’s Wilson Greatbatch’s accidental use of the wrong resistor, leading to the development of the implantable pacemaker, or Harry Coover’s discarded cyanoacrylate compound that later became known as Superglue, or even the quirky invention of Silly Putty, created when scientists were experimenting with alternatives to rubber during World War II. Many of these discoveries also underscore the importance of a playful, experimental approach in science. The creation of Silly Putty, for example, shows how even failed attempts can bring about unexpected joy and utility.

Breakthroughs Are Not Always Linear

Serendipity has often served as the hidden engine of science, these stories remind us that progress often arises, not only from meticulously executed plans, but from curiosity in the face of the unknown, and the curiosity to ask questions no one thought to consider. Each of these stories begins with serious research, identification of something else, and ends with a deliberate and careful pursuit of understanding.

The next great breakthrough might be one curious observation away waiting for someone prepared to notice it, with the openness to ask: What if this means something more? What if there's a possibility no one else has imagined?

To foster such discoveries, individuals and institutions alike need to create environments that encourage exploration, tolerate failure, and value unexpected insights just as much as anticipated outcomes. This requires creating collaborative environments where different expertise can intersect, fostering moments of 'unexpected connections' that can yield to the unexpected breakthroughs. The history of penicillin, for instance, also shows how collaboration can be key; it wasn't until a group of chemists worked with Fleming that penicillin was turned from an accidental discovery into a usable drug. Such collaborations and a willingness to explore the mundane, the playful, and the accidental are what turn serendipity into sustained progress.

With the right perspective, even the most seemingly accidental moments can become enduring triumphs of human ingenuity. How might you cultivate an environment, whether at work or at home, that values curiosity, playful experimentation, and openness to the unexpected?

Stay curious

Dr Colin W.P. Lewis

Image credits

Serendipity and science - Makri, S. & Blandford, A. (2012). Coming across information serendipitously–Part 1: A process model. Journal of Documentation, 63(5), 684-705.

Arthur Fry from Wikipedia