Not every great idea starts with a plan — some of the best ones came from pure mistakes.
Some of the world’s most useful (and even tasty) inventions weren’t planned at all. They happened by mistake — but ended up changing lives. Here are five everyday things that owe their existence to happy accidents.
1. Post-it Notes
A scientist at 3M tried to make a super-strong glue. Instead, he created one that barely stuck. Years later, his “failed” glue became the backbone of Post-it Notes — now found in every office.
2. Microwave Oven
In the 1940s, engineer Percy Spencer noticed a chocolate bar in his pocket melted while he was working with radar equipment. Curious, he tested popcorn kernels, then eventually built the first microwave oven.
3. Potato Chips
In 1853, a chef named George Crum sliced potatoes extra thin to annoy a picky customer who kept sending his fries back. The crispy chips were an instant hit — and the rest is snack history.
4. Penicillin
Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find mold had contaminated his petri dishes — and killed off harmful bacteria. That “messy lab accident” became the world’s first antibiotic.
5. Velcro
After a hike in the Swiss Alps, engineer George de Mestral noticed burrs sticking to his clothes and his dog’s fur. Studying them under a microscope, he mimicked their tiny hooks — and created Velcro.
Takeaway: Sometimes “mistakes” open doors to the most useful discoveries. Maybe your next slip-up could be the start of something big.
