So you your holiday crafts and projects aren’t turning out as planned?

Relax, some of our best advancements didn’t turned out as planned, but were the wellspring of plan B.

For example, sildenafil citrate (Viagra) was originally developed by Pfizer to treat chest pain but the unpromising studies were stopped in 1992. The published information did reveal properties contained in sildenafil citrate could treat erectile dysfunction. How ironic the medication is now contraindicated for the men for whom the study was originally designed.

During his experiments with cathode-ray tubes (CRT), German physicist, Wilhelm Roentgen observed the light penetrated cardboard, wood, and even his hand. His X-rays of bones in his wife’s hand earned the 1901 Nobel Prize.

Alexander Fleming was conducting flu research when he observed mold forming in one of the petri dishes. The area with the mold had no bacteria. Fleming surmised penicillin may treat bacterial infections.

British scientist, Edward Jenner overheard a milkmaid’s comment regarding people who contracted the relatively harmless cowpox never contracted the deadly smallpox. Jenner tested this theory by exposing an 8-year-old boy to cowpox and then later smallpox.

Farmers noticed their cows died after consuming a type of clover. When scientists discovered a particular chemical in the plant prevented blood from clotting causing hemorrhage, the chemical found use in rat poison. In 1952, this chemical, warfarin was first used as an anticoagulant in humans.

Banner, V. (n.d.). 5 Amazing Breakthroughs Discovered by Accident. QualityHealth: Health Information, Savings, Blogs and Support Groups. Retrieved from http://www.qualityhealth.com/health-lifestyle-articles/5-amazing-breakthroughs-discovered-accident

Viagra for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction. (n.d.). University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved from http://www.umm.edu/men/viagra

Tags: healthcare, innovation, invention, pharma