The glowing fluid that became the glow stick

Accidental inventions that changed history

Chapter 1

Accidents that saved millions of lives

Chapter 2

Happy mishaps in the kitchen and home

Chapter 3

Sticky situations that created modern materials

Chapter 4

Failed experiments that became childhood classics

YOUR GOAL

Master of Accidental inventions that changed history

Ch 4 · Failed experiments that became childhood classics
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misslily Accidental Toy Inventions

It was meant to keep the naval ships from shaking in the storm, But it tumbled off the shelf and took a brand new form.

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misslily Wallpaper cleaner turned modeling clay

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The synthetic rubber substitute that bounced

misslily A wartime search for cheap rubber produced a bizarre, bouncy putty instead.

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Wallpaper cleaner turned modeling clay

misslily A gooey compound meant for cleaning coal soot off walls became Play-Doh.

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Wonderful Oops!
BETA

misslily Match each messy mistake to its breakthrough to discover how accidental inventions changed history.

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Fun Fact

Silly Putty news: In 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts took Silly Putty into space to secure their tools and keep themselves entertained during the historic mission.

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Glossary
slinky (noun)
A toy consisting of a helical spring that can perform various tricks, such as traveling down stairs. In 1943, engineer Richard James accidentally invented it while trying to design stabilizers for marine equipment.

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Gossip

Which of these accidental toys is the absolute best?

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Quiz

What was Richard James trying to stabilize when he accidentally invented the Slinky?

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misslily The glowing fluid that became the glow stick

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Quiz

What was the original purpose of the compound that became Play-Doh?

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misslily A bouncy spring on a battleship

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Quiz

Who demonstrated the Slinky at Gimbels Department Store in 1945, selling out in minutes?

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misslily The synthetic rubber substitute that bounced

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Quiz

In what year was Play-Doh officially rebranded and sold as a children's toy?

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Quiz

Which two ingredients did James Wright mix to accidentally create Silly Putty?

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Quiz

Why did James Wright's bouncy putty fail as a synthetic rubber substitute during World War II?

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Quiz

Which branch of the US government first patented the modern tactical glow stick?

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Quiz

What scientific phenomenon makes glow sticks emit light without heat?

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