Accidental: The Greatest (Unintentional) Science Breakthroughs and How They Changed The World

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Description

We may imagine that science is a process of breakthroughs and light bulb moments. But in reality, science goes wrong 99% of the time.

Almost every idea a scientist comes up with is quickly disproved by a failed experiment or rival research. Science moves at a rate of inches per decade and we like it that way. But occasionally, just occasionally, a complete fluke happens and changes everything. From an untimely sneeze in a petri dish leading to antibiotics to the discovery of microwaves via melted chocolate, this is a rip-roaring adventure through science gone wrong, accidentally changing humanity for the better.

Author Bio

Tim James is an expert in science communication, making seemingly complex topics such as the periodic table and quantum mechanics entertaining for all ages. He is the author of Elemental: How the Periodic Table Can Now Explain (Nearly) Everything, a public lecturer (Institute of Physics) and an inventor - having discovered a chemical that converts wood into a liquid biofuel.

Raised by missionaries in Nigeria, he fell in love with science at the age of fifteen and refuses to get over his infatuation. Since graduating with a Master's degree in chemistry, specialising in computational quantum mechanics, he devoted himself to teaching until 2022. His first book was selected by the Daily Mail as one of the best books of 2018.