The Accidental Scientist: The Role of Chance and Luck in Scientific Discovery

The fascinating stories behind the origins of everything from Braille to breast enhancement, superglue to stainless steel, and the post-it note to Pavlov's dog

Have you ever wondered how the ideas for some things come about? Surprisingly often it is as much down to chance as a single person's brilliance. This book explores the role of chance and error in scientific, medical, and commercial innovation, outlining exactly how some of the most well-known products, gadgets, and useful gizmos came to be. From the jacuzzi to jeans, this book explores many of the discoveries that we are all so familiar with today, yet have the most interesting origins because of the story behind them. Not all discoveries require brilliance, and as this book demonstrates, sometimes a special ingredient is needed: luck.