r>1. Velcro Did you know that Velcro was invented by a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral after a hunting trip with his dog? He noticed that hundreds of burrs were stuck to his dog's fur and, upon closer inspection, discovered that the burrs had tiny hooks that caught onto the loops of his dog's fur. This inspired him to create a fastening system based on the same principle, leading to the creation of Velcro. 2. Post-it Notes In 1968, a scientist at 3M named Spencer Silver was attempting to create a new super-strong adhesive but instead stumbled upon a weak one that could be easily removed and repositioned. It wasn't until a colleague, Art Fry, realized the potential of this sticky substance and used it to create Post-it Notes in 1977. 3. WD-40 WD-40, the lubricant spray most commonly used to loosen rusted bolts and squeaky hinges, actually stands for Water Displacement - 40th attempt. The name comes from the fact that it took 40 attempts to create the formula that we still use today. 4. Teflon Teflon, the non-stick coating commonly used on cookware, was discovered by accident in 1938 by a chemist named Roy Plunkett. He was attempting to create a new refrigerant but instead ended up with a slippery white powder that would later be patented as Teflon. 5. Kevlar Kevlar, the strong and lightweight material used in body armor and bulletproof vests, was invented by a chemist at DuPont named Stephanie Kwolek in 1965. She was attempting to create a strong and lightweight material for use in tires but instead discovered Kevlar. 6. Snuggie The Snuggie, the popular blanket with sleeves, was actually invented in the 1990s by a company called Allstar Marketing Group. However, it wasn't until a commercial for the product aired in 2008 that the Snuggie became a viral sensation. 7. Silly Putty Silly Putty, the stretchy and bouncy toy popular with children, was invented during World War II by a scientist at General Electric. He was attempting to create a synthetic rubber that could be used in place of natural rubber, which was in short supply due to the war. Although it didn't work for its intended purpose, the substance later known as Silly Putty became a beloved toy. 8. Slinky The Slinky, the classic toy that moves down stairs on its own, was invented by an engineer named Richard James in 1943. He was attempting to create a new type of spring that could be used to stabilize sensitive equipment on navy ships but instead discovered the Slinky. 9. Lava Lamp The inventor of the Lava Lamp, Edward Craven Walker, was inspired by a strange liquid-filled egg timer he saw in a pub in the 1960s. He spent years experimenting with different types of liquids before discovering the perfect recipe for the hypnotic wax and oil mixture that we now know as the Lava Lamp. 10 Pop Rocks Pop Rocks, the candy that crackles and pops in your mouth, was invented by a food chemist named William Mitchell in 1956. He was attempting to create an instant carbonated drink but instead discovered the candy that would later be marketed as Pop Rocks.
