Viagra was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and chest pain, but during trials, researchers discovered its more “famous” effect.
Plastic, specifically Bakelite, was discovered by Leo Baekeland while he was trying to create a synthetic substitute for shellac, a material used in electronics.
Saccharin, the first artificial sweetener, was discovered when chemist Constantin Fahlberg forgot to wash his hands after a day in the lab and noticed a sweet taste on his fingers during dinner.
Corn Flakes were invented by accident when John Kellogg left boiled wheat out, causing it to go stale. Instead of throwing it away, he rolled it out, toasted it, and created the first flake cereal.
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