When Post‑It Notes reached desks around the world, few knew the surprising story behind their creation. The journey began in the late 1960s when chemist Spencer Silver—while working at 3M—developed a unique adhesive that was strong enough to cling, yet weak enough to be removable without residue. Because it held only lightly, it seemed useless…
When Swiss engineer George de Mestral returned from a nature walk in 1941, he was puzzled by how burrs clung to his dog’s fur and his own trousers. What many saw as an annoyance, de Mestral viewed as a clue—and he spent months under a microscope studying the burr’s hook-like structure. His curiosity ultimately led…
Inventions often emerge from unexpected circumstances, leading to creations that become integral parts of our daily lives. For instance, the widely used Post-it Note was born out of a failed experiment. Dr. Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, was attempting to develop a super-strong adhesive but ended up with a weak one. Initially considered a failure,…
When Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist in 1968, accidentally developed a low-tack, reusable adhesive, he didn’t envision the Post-it Note empire. His creation—initially seen as a failed adhesive—found purpose only when colleague Art Fry strapped the idea to bookmark his church hymnal. This reveal demonstrates a core lesson in invention: value often lies hidden behind…
Not all inventions come from laboratories — some come from childhood curiosity. One of the most beloved summertime treats, the popsicle, was actually discovered by accident. In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson left a cup filled with powdered soda, water, and a stirring stick outside on a freezing night. By morning, the liquid had frozen solid…
The microwave oven, now a common fixture in kitchens around the world, was never originally intended to cook food. In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer was working on radar technology using magnetrons at Raytheon when he noticed a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted unexpectedly. Intrigued, he experimented by placing popcorn kernels and eventually an…
As plastic pollution continues to choke ecosystems and strain waste management systems, the science of bioplastics is emerging as a game-changing innovation. Derived from renewable biological sources like corn starch, algae, or sugarcane, bioplastics offer a potentially eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Unlike traditional plastics, some bioplastics are biodegradable or compostable—making them a central focus…
The ballpoint pen, a staple in daily life, owes its invention to Hungarian journalist László Bíró. Frustrated with fountain pens that smudged and required frequent refilling, Bíró sought a better solution. Observing that newspaper ink dried quickly, he, along with his chemist brother György, developed a pen using similar quick-drying ink. Their design featured a…
The Post-it Note, a staple of offices and homes worldwide, owes its existence to a failed experiment and a stroke of serendipity. In 1968, Dr. Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M, was tasked with creating a super-strong adhesive. Instead, he developed a weak, pressure-sensitive adhesive that could stick to surfaces but peel off easily without…
innovuscollege.com – The wheel is so iconic that we use it as a metaphor for invention itself (“Don’t reinvent the wheel!”). But how much do you really know about this ancient breakthrough? Buckle up—here are 10 fun facts about the wheel that’ll make you appreciate this “simple” invention like never before! 1. The Wheel Wasn’t Humanity’s First Big Idea…
