From gunpowder to Viagra, many of the greatest eureka moments in human history were chance discoveries that led to world-changing inventions and ideas. Let this book take you on a tour of the scientific and technological advancements where leaps of faith, unexpected inspiration, and sudden shifts of understanding brought about overnight changes in our perception of the world.

Flashes of genius have shaped our lives for thousands of years, from the discovery of glass to the invention of the microwave oven. Celebrating the accidental Einsteins whose moments of inspiration changed the world, this book covers the work of familiar figures such as Isaac Newton and Louis Pasteur, but also reveals unsung heroes such as the inventors of glass, batteries, Teflon, and the radio.

Richard Gaughan is a research engineer whose decades of experience in the aerospace industry and U.S. National Laboratories have provided him intimate familiarity with the role of chance observation in technological development. He has written hundreds of articles covering subjects as diverse as the creation of antimatter, quantum teleportation, space telescopes, solid state lighting, and advanced medical imaging methods. This is his first book.

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