20 Times Chance Changed the Course of History

During the American Revolutionary War, in 1776, George Washington’s army was nearly surrounded by British forces. A thick fog suddenly rolled in during the night, concealing their movements. This allowed the Continental Army to retreat unnoticed across the East River. Without that fog, the war might have ended much sooner.

In 1928, Alexander Fleming, upon returning from vacation, discovered mold on a Petri dish he had left behind. Instead of throwing it away, he noticed that the mold had killed the surrounding bacteria. This chance observation led to the discovery of penicillin, which became one of the most important antibiotics in the history of medicine.

Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492 with the goal of reaching Asia by sailing west. He ultimately discovered the American continent due to a miscalculation regarding the size of the Earth. Although it was not his intended destination, this voyage permanently linked the continents. It marked the beginning of regular contact between Europe and the Americas.

In 1840, Queen Victoria survived an assassination attempt when the gunshot fired at her failed to go off properly. The weapon misfired due to a faulty round. This mechanical failure likely saved her life. This incident led to tighter security measures surrounding the monarchy.

The Allied landings in Normandy in 1944 were heavily dependent on weather conditions. A brief lull in the weather gave the Allied forces a short window of opportunity to take action. German commanders believed that the stormy weather would prevent any attack. This misjudgment contributed to the success of the landings.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895 while conducting experiments on cathode rays. He noticed a fluorescent glow on a nearby screen, though he had not set out to develop a medical imaging technique. Intrigued, he continued his research and identified a new form of radiation. This serendipitous discovery revolutionized the field of diagnostics.

In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt was shot during a campaign speech. The bullet was slowed by a folded speech and a glasses case he had in his pocket. This significantly reduced the severity of the injury. He even continued speaking before receiving medical attention.

In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a Soviet submarine officer refused to authorize the launch of a nuclear torpedo. Due to communication problems, the crew believed that war might already have broken out. 

In 1848, James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill in California while he was building a sawmill. This discovery was accidental and spread rapidly by word of mouth. It sparked the California Gold Rush, leading to massive migration and economic upheaval. It reshaped the development of the American West.

In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer noticed that a chocolate bar was melting in his pocket while he was working on a radar device. This unexpected effect prompted him to continue his experiments. He realized that microwaves could effectively heat food. This discovery ultimately led to the invention of the microwave oven.

The heavy rains that fell the night before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 delayed Napoleon’s attack. The muddy ground slowed the movement of troops and the deployment of artillery. This gave the opposing forces more time to prepare. This delay contributed to Napoleon’s defeat.

In 1839, Charles Goodyear accidentally dropped a mixture of rubber and sulfur onto a hot stove. Instead of melting, the material hardened and became durable. This process, known as vulcanization, made rubber much more useful. It paved the way for countless industrial and everyday applications.

Anne Frank’s diary survived World War II thanks to Miep Gies, who found it and hid it. After the Frank family was arrested, she kept the diary in a safe place. It was because of her actions that the diary was later published.

During World War I, King George V is said to have narrowly escaped danger when a mistaken report led to the cancellation of a planned attack. Confusion over the time and location prevented the incident from occurring. 

In 1968, scientist Spencer Silver developed a low-tack adhesive while trying to create a stronger one. For years, this invention seemed useless, until a colleague found a practical use for it. That’s how the Post-it was born, and it is still widely used around the world.

In 1631, a printing error in a King James Bible omitted the word “not” from one of the commandments. This resulted in a controversial version sometimes called the “Perverse Bible.” 

In 1938, chemist Roy Plunkett discovered Teflon by accident while conducting experiments on refrigerants. A gas that he expected to be released had instead solidified to form a slippery substance. This unexpected material proved to be extremely resistant to heat and chemicals.

In 1886, John Pemberton created a syrup intended to serve as a medicinal tonic. By chance, it was mixed with carbonated water instead of still water. The resulting beverage became Coca-Cola. 

During the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, an oxygen tank exploded, putting the astronauts in danger. Thanks to their quick thinking and a bit of luck, the engineers were able to come up with a makeshift solution. The crew returned safely to Earth despite this crisis. 

The ancient city of Pompeii was rediscovered in the 18th century during routine earthwork. To their great surprise, the workers unearthed ruins that had been buried under volcanic ash since A.D. 79. This discovery provided a glimpse into Roman life, which was remarkably well preserved.