When a reaction fails, a liquid spills or an image reveals an unexpected detail, some researchers don't look away. Instead, they turn those surprises into major advances. This mini book shows how, between 2024 and 2026, automotive catalysts were boosted by scorching exhaust gases, an island was inadvertently spotted in Antarctica and a new chemical reaction emerged from a missing reagent. The cases presented - electrochemistry, materials, biology, archaeometallurgy and astronomy - demonstrate that serendipity can arise in any field.

Essential keywords : serendipitous discoveries, scientific innovation, serendipity, catalysis, new materials, new species, astronomy, productive error.

This book offers unique value : it examines not only the discoveries themselves, but the mindset and methods that transform chance into discovery. Reading it will help you understand why chance favours the prepared mind and how to encourage this creativity within your organisation or personal research.

Publisher : Five Minutes - Series : SAVOIR EN BREF. Dive into these short but impactful stories to discover how the unexpected can open the way to scientific revolutions, and let yourself be inspired to view your own experiments in a new light.