Unusual Methods of Innovation Discovery

 Serendipity

In the history of innovation and discoveries, serendipity has been a remarkable phenomenon. Serendipity is the beneficial occurrence and development of events and has led to several remarkable discoveries and innovations. One such discovery is that of the pacemaker. The invention of the pacemaker is a classic example of serendipitous discovery and demonstrates how accidental findings can lead to groundbreaking innovations in science, including in the field of medicine. 

In 1956, Wilson Greatbatch, an American engineer and inventor, was working on a device designed to record fast heart sounds. While assembling the components for this device, he installed a resistor with the wrong resistance value. Recognizing the potential significance of this accidental discovery, Greatbatch realized that these electrical pulses could be used to regulate the human heart's rhythm and that the device invented at this point could be used to control irregular heartbeats, a condition known as arrhythmia. This unexpected development led to the creation of the first practical implantable cardiac pacemaker. This serendipitous discovery revolutionized the field of cardiology and has had a profound impact on the lives of millions of people around the world (Puette et al., 2022). 

Exaptation 

Exaptation is the process by which existing features are co-opted for new functions. This is a phenomenon that has led to several noteworthy innovations in various fields. An invention that came out of the exaptation of an existing feature is the use of the properties of spider silk in bulletproof clothing. Researchers have adapted the properties of spider silk for various applications, including bulletproof clothing. The silk from spiders has incredibly strong and elastic properties. Researchers have managed to find a way to integrate spider silk proteins into fabric, thereby creating lightweight, flexible, and durable materials that can effectively stop bullets. This exaptation of spider silk's natural strength has led to innovations in personal protection, enhancing the safety of individuals in high-risk professions such as law enforcement and the military.

Error

An example of innovation made through error is the microwave oven. This common and almost must-have household appliance came into place due to a scientific research mistake. Percy Spencer, an engineer with Raytheon Corporation, discovered the microwave oven through an error while working with a magnetron, a vacuum tube used to generate microwaves for radar systems (Smithsonian, 2013). While experimenting, he noticed the melting of the candy bar in his pocket. With this intriguing occurrence, Spencer placed popcorn kernels near the magnetron and observed them popping (Ackerman, 2016). This accidental discovery led to the development of the microwave oven, revolutionizing the way people cook and heat food.

In conclusion, the concepts of serendipity, error, and exaptation are interconnected phenomena that describe the chance discovery and sometimes the repurposing of discoveries and innovations for the good of humanity. 

 

References

Ackerman, E. (2016). Brief History of the Microwave Oven Where the “radar” in Raytheon’s Radarange came from. IEEE Spectrum. https://spectrum.ieee.org/a-brief-history-of-the-microwave-oven. 

Puette, J.A., Malek, R., Ellison, M.B.  Pacemaker. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526001/

Smithsonian (2013). Microwave Oven. https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/snapshot/microwave-oven#:~:text=Percy%20Spencer%20developed%20and%20patented,weighing%20more%20than%20750%20pounds.