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

Product Description

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.

About the Author

Graeme Donald is the author of a number of books about the meaning of words and popular misconceptions, including
Loose Cannons and 
The Man Who Shot the Man Who Shot Lincoln.