32 Inventions That Started as a Mistake But Turned Out to Be Life-Changing

After numerous attempts, Charles Goodyear finally achieved a breakthrough in creating weatherproof rubber when he accidentally mixed rubber and sulfur and heated it. This serendipitous discovery revealed a substance that, instead of burning, became tougher with more heat. It was a pivotal moment that led to the creation of vulcanized rubber.

Securing a patent by the close of 1839, Charles Goodyear named the revolutionary method ‘vulcanization,’ referencing the intense heat required for the process. By 1844, he was manufacturing rubber on a massive scale. This stroke of luck paved the way for myriad vulcanized rubber goods, from hockey pucks to the ubiquitous tires that keep the wheels turning on vehicles worldwide.