Accidental scientific discoveries that changed the world

The foundation of the human body is our bones. Whether it's in regard to health or even a skeleton costume on Halloween, the discovery of the X-ray machine has greatly improved our understanding of the human body and its bones. The technology for X-rays dated back to the late nineteenth century but was in plain sight for years until their true potential was discovered by accident. This volume introduces readers to the story of their discovery and how they've changed medicine for the better ever since.

One of the single greatest leaps forward in human healthcare happened because of an accident in a laboratory. This serendipitous event was the result of a summer vacation in Scotland and an unattended experiment. Dr. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, one of the first antibiotics, in 1928 when he noticed that mold had gotten into a petri dish and it had prevented bacteria from growing. This book explores Fleming's accidental discovery, the science behind antibiotics, and the dawn of the era of antibiotics.

"In 1945, invisible waves such as radio waves and microwaves had already changed the world. As World War II raged on, microwaves were an important tool for the Allied war effort as they were used to spot incoming enemy airplanes and ships. Today microwaves are now part of daily life on a much smaller scale. Instead of watching movement, the energy of microwaves is used to heat up your favorite meals and leftovers, quickly, at any time, with the push of a few buttons"--Provided bypublisher.

"Readers learn how many types of plastic were invented accidentally by scientists who were trying to make something else . . . describes how these discoveries were made and how they would go on to change the world in ways both big and small"--Provided by publisher.