Sometimes unexpected results are most welcome. Especially if that unexpected discovery leads to a happy ending.
At least it was the case for me. It was a joyous moment to me, to get an unexpected solution, after struggling for months with a simulation, in order to determine the reaction pathway of an enzyme.
Wondering why suddenly I'm talking about all this. The answer lies in a link at the comment section of this blog. https://soniachhikara1991.wixsite.com/mysite-1/post/tea-time-conversations?fbclid=IwAR35o-xA1EgL9X8ZE6H10Ndr9zHOJl5mSxSTHLWKWoFC4kajV_sZkdj_Mbc
So, the link opens up a scientific article discussing the effect of light pulse in an oxide. They were surprised to find slowing down of electrons as compared to the ionic lattice near a transition point.
Who knows what could be accomplished with this discovery in near future.
But we can surely sneak peek into our past for such scientific surprises or we can say serendipity.
Serendipity or happy accidents in science were converted into opportunities by sagacious minds. Or maybe scientists are trained into recognizing the significance of unexpected results and utilize such accidents in a better way.
Let’s check out a few happy accidents that were converted into opportunities by some genius minds.
X-rays: No one can deny the importance of X-rays in various fields viz medicine, spectroscopy, crystallography, airport security etc. The discovery of X-rays required an unexpected result and a curious mind. Wilhelm Roentgen while working on the electron beams in vacuum tubes, observed lightning of a screen placed in the line of the setup. His curiosity to explain that phenomenon led to the discovery of X-rays and its various applications.
Microwave: From your kitchen to your labs, this appliance is something that has made life much easier. Thanks to Percy spencer, an engineer working for Raytheon company, who utilized the idea of heating food using microwaves. Though he was left with a melted chocolate in his pocket, but at least he managed to get a patent for the application of MWs in food industry.
Coelacanth: So, the marine biologists know exactly what I’m talking about. For the rest, it is a FISH discovered and recognized in 1997, in a fish market, of course. Mark Erdmann got ‘happy go lucky’ when his wife pointed out to him a strange looking fish. And he, being a thoroughly trained marine biologist immediately recognized the fish and was credited with the discovery of the rare animal.
And from above discoveries we could learn following
Be curious and attentive what you observe while experimenting.
You might not be the first to observe a phenomenon, but your unique idea to use that phenomenon in a better way can revolutionize the world.
Study hard! Okay. May be studying hard is not the point but the ability to apply whatever one has studied in practical situations could prove beneficial. Just don’t limit your knowledge to books only.
Now, keep making mistakes. Maybe someday you could say, “this has taken me by surprise!”