Some inventors labor over a project for years, hoping to change the world, while others serendipitously discover groundbreaking inventions. When it comes to science and exploration, sometimes, what starts as a project with one intent might evolve into an invention with far-reaching implications. Life is strange that way! We’re here today to learn about the unexpected inventions that have secured their spot in history.
#1: A Staple Breakfast Item
Back in 1894, the Kellogg brothers created one of America’s most beloved breakfast cereals quite by accident. While concocting healthy meals for Battle Creek Sanitarium patients in Michigan—where John Kellogg played the role of superintendent—they stumbled upon what would become Cornflakes. Their discovery came after they neglected a bowl of wheat, leading it to stale. Cornflakes were born upon their efforts to salvage it, removing the mold and toasting the remains.
By 1896, ‘Flaked Cereals and Process of Preparing Same’ became patented under the Kellogg namesake. William Kellogg’s desire to sweeten the cereal with sugar led him to open the Kellogg Company in 1906 and mass-produce the original Cornflakes we all know and love.