To my friend Michele, with love and memories of science fairs
—E.M.
To my cousin and friend, writer Faye Rivkin, whose kindness and persistence are an inspiration
—F.W.
How do you become an accidental genius?
And how does an accident lead to innovation, invention or a scientific breakthrough?
One thing’s for sure. Most innovation doesn’t happen overnight. Most innovators think about a problem for a long time before attempting a solution. Most experience failure before success.
And what about “genius”?
“Genius” is seeing failures and accidents as opportunities.
“Genius” is being flexible and changing directions when something unexpected happens.
“Genius” is knowing that luck and timing are part of the process.
“Genius” is being curious and always asking questions.
“Genius” is never taking no for an answer.
All the accidental geniuses we profile in this book share these and other personal qualities. These amazing innovators come from diverse backgrounds, religions and countries. Some were successful when they were young. Some took years to come up with an invention or make a discovery. Some worked alone while others collaborated with colleagues.
But each one has made a difference in the world. Each one pursued work they loved with passion, curiosity, tenacity and a little luck.
You never know! One day you too may become an accidental genius!
“Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.”
—Mark Twain, author
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
—Albert Einstein, scientist
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
—Carl Sagan, scientist
“You can’t just sit around waiting for new technologies to evolve…We all have different but important roles to play in this world!”
—Ann Makosinski, inventor of the Hollow Flashlight
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY: If one experiment doesn’t work, try another until you’ve exhausted all possibilities. Then try again.
GET KNOWLEDGE AND USE IT: Observe. Listen. Consult others. Read everything on the subject that you can. Always be open to new ideas and directions.
PAY ATTENTION: Be curious and ask lots of questions. Pay special attention when your work gives you a surprising result.
MAKE CONNECTIONS: Analyze what’s already been done and stay alert and open to new possibilities.
IT TAKES TIME: Keep working, assessing your results and looking for the next step, no matter how long it takes.
BE PERSISTENT: Never take no for an answer and never give up, even if it takes many tries to complete your invention.
FAILURE IS PART OF THE PROCESS: See failures and accidents as opportunities. Keep experimenting and inventing despite your failures.
DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS: No matter how tough it is to gather the data or how much time it takes, only use information you know is correct or can check.
BE OPEN TO POSSIBILITIES: Look beyond what’s right in front of you and be aware of other options.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: Trust your feelings and instincts and remember that luck and timing are part of the process.
adhesive—a substance that bonds objects or materials together
amputee—a person who has had part of an arm or leg cut off
antibiotic—a substance that kills or slows the growth of disease-causing microscopic organisms
bacteria—tiny, single-celled organisms that live in soil and water or the bodies of plants and animals
bioluminescence—light produced by living organisms
bioreactors—devices that use bacteria to break down waste
cathode ray—a flow of electrons, one of the three tiny particles that make up an atom, from a closed container that contains no air
classify—to arrange something in a group or as part of a category
corrode—to gradually destroy or “eat away”
cosmonaut—an astronaut from the Soviet space program
counterweight—a weight that balances other weights by exerting an opposite force
data—facts and information collected to use in a discussion or calculation
displacing—removing or replacing
electric current—a flow of electric charge through a wire or circuit
entrepreneur—person who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business
etching—making designs on a hard material by “eating” lines into the material’s surface
fossil—the remains or impression of a plant or animal from a past era that has been preserved in the Earth’s crust
herpes—a group of viral diseases that affect the skin or nervous system
hinge—a movable part that allows something to open, close or swing
kerosene—a light fuel used in heaters and lamps
leukemia—a cancer in which there is an abnormal increase in white blood cells, which crowd out red blood cells
mass-produce—to produce or manufacture in large quantities
metallurgy—the scientific study of the properties and uses of metals
microgravity—the condition in which the pull of gravity is very weak; often called zero gravity or weightlessness
mold—a fungus that grows in the form of tiny, threadlike structures and often appears fuzzy or furry
molecule—an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms, held together by chemical bonds
nitric acid—a corrosive colorless or yellowish liquid used in the making of dyes, explosives and fertilizers
nutrient—a substance that plants and animals use to survive and grow
obsolete—outdated or no longer being produced
oncologist—a doctor who diagnoses and treats cancer
organism—any individual living thing that can function on its own, whether animal, plant or single-celled life form
parallel lines—lines that run in the same direction and at the same distance apart
patent—an official document that gives an inventor the right to make, sell or use an invention
pharmacist—a health-care professional who prepares and sells medicinal drugs
photosynthesis—the process through which plants absorb light, water and carbon dioxide to create food and release oxygen
radar—a system for detecting the presence, speed and direction of an object, such as an aircraft or ship, using radio waves
radiation—energy in the form of light, sound or heat that moves from one place to another
rationing—controlling how scarce items are used or distributed
silicon—a gray chemical element found in rocks and sand and used to make computers and other electronics
stainless steel—a mixture of steel and chromium that doesn’t easily corrode, rust or stain
synthetic—artificial or manufactured
tailings—the residue left over from mining and extracting resources
tenacity—the quality of being determined and never giving up
vaccine—a solution that helps keep a person from getting a disease
variable stars—stars whose brightness changes regularly or irregularly
wireless communication—the transfer of information or power using radio signals
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