* Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin: In 1928, Fleming was studying bacteria when he noticed that a mold had contaminated one of his petri dishes. The mold was producing a substance that was killing the bacteria, and Fleming realized that he had discovered a new antibiotic.
* Charles Goodyear's discovery of vulcanized rubber: In 1839, Goodyear was experimenting with different ways to make rubber more durable. He accidentally dropped a piece of rubber into a pot of sulfur and noticed that the rubber became stronger and more elastic. Goodyear had discovered the process of vulcanization, which is still used today to make rubber products.
* Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity: In 1665, Newton was sitting in an orchard when he saw an apple fall from a tree. He began to wonder why the apple fell straight down instead of sideways or up, and this led him to develop his theory of gravity.
Serendipity discoveries are often the result of careful observation and experimentation, but they can also be the result of simple luck. Regardless of how they occur, serendipity discoveries have played a major role in the advancement of science, technology, and medicine.