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It’s no secret that some of the biggest things in human history were discovered utterly by accident. Penicillin and X-rays, to name just a few, are among them.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that game-changing inventions happen that often. And if Fleming returned from his two-week vacation to realize his petri dish had bacterial colonies that wouldn’t grow near the mold, it doesn’t mean two weeks by the sea would give you similar results.

That doesn’t mean we’re not allowed to play with chance and see where quasi-scientific DIY experiments will take us. Below is a collection of some of the most mildly interesting cases, like leaving a summer roll on a desk for 4 days to find it sprouting or quickly switching temperatures on a marble. Don’t ask why or what for—some things are meant to be "just because."

#1

What Happens When You Grow A Pumkin Inside A Plastic Mold

What Happens When You Grow A Pumkin Inside A Plastic Mold

TheNameIsKevin Report

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    #2

    This Is What Happens When A Cat Touches A Plasma Ball

    This Is What Happens When A Cat Touches A Plasma Ball

    OddJug Report

    #3

    What Happens When You Swing A String Of Glow Sticks With Burning Steel Wool At The End And Take A Long Exposure Photo

    What Happens When You Swing A String Of Glow Sticks With Burning Steel Wool At The End And Take A Long Exposure Photo

    Chris Matthew Brady Report

    As the turn of the wheel goes, some of the discoveries and inventions without which we couldn’t imagine our lives today were made solely by accident.

    For example, all-time fave breakfast staple Cornflakes were made by Will and John Kellogg back in 1894. Due to their Seventh-day Adventist practices, they were experimenting with vegetarian food. As the story goes, some of the wheat went stale and they tried rolling it flat and baking it. It got popular, so they tried a maize alternative which turned out to be even better.

    #4

    This Is What Happens When You Put Horizontal Mirrors On A Shack In The Desert

    This Is What Happens When You Put Horizontal Mirrors On A Shack In The Desert

    AdamE89 Report

    #5

    This Is What Happens When Frogs Eat Fireflies

    This Is What Happens When Frogs Eat Fireflies

    mtlgrems Report

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    Just a Purpler
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's absolutely adorable and also a little sad for the moment the light goes out!

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    #6

    This Is What Happens When You Heat An Ordinary Marble Over A Flame Then Immediately Drop It Into Cold Water

    This Is What Happens When You Heat An Ordinary Marble Over A Flame Then Immediately Drop It Into Cold Water

    unicornheabutt Report

    Interestingly, the first popsicle is said to have been invented by an 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson in 1905. The kid left a container of soda and water with its mixing stick inside on a porch overnight. In the morning, the original popsicle, marked as an Epsicle, was born thanks to a cold night and one child’s distraction.

    Meanwhile, the jacuzzi was invented by Candido Jacuzzi back in the 1960s when the man made a whirlpool bath for his 15-month-old son who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis.

    #8

    This Is What Happens When You Polish A Coconut

    This Is What Happens When You Polish A Coconut

    Roctopus420 Report

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    #9

    This Is What Happens When A Lightning Hits Beach Sand

    This Is What Happens When A Lightning Hits Beach Sand

    Criptufu Report

    Not many people know that safety glass, also known as laminated glass, was also discovered by complete chance. When French chemist Édouard Bénédictus knocked a glass beaker from the top shelf in his laboratory, he noticed that it shattered, but did not break completely.

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    It turns out, the beaker contained cellulose nitrate. It’s a type of plastic that left a film on the inside of the glass. The patent was filed in 1909 and is still in production today!

    #10

    What Happens When 50 Mph Winds, Freezing Temperatures And Lake Erie Hits Your House

    What Happens When 50 Mph Winds, Freezing Temperatures And Lake Erie Hits Your House

    viciann Report

    #11

    What Happens When The Mist Around A Waterfall Freezes

    What Happens When The Mist Around A Waterfall Freezes

    joshmea Report

    #12

    What Happens When Wood Is Burnt With High Voltage

    What Happens When Wood Is Burnt With High Voltage

    -N3ptun3- Report

    #13

    Here's What Happens When You Leave Half A Cabbage In The Fridge Too Long

    Here's What Happens When You Leave Half A Cabbage In The Fridge Too Long

    H0B0Byter99 Report

    #14

    What Happens When You Put M&ms In A Dish Of Water. Diffusion Force Barriers

    What Happens When You Put M&ms In A Dish Of Water. Diffusion Force Barriers

    bananaboat95 Report

    #15

    This Is What Happens When You Drive Over Chalk Paint On A Hot Day

    This Is What Happens When You Drive Over Chalk Paint On A Hot Day

    Krallorddark Report

    #16

    This Is What Happens When Lightning Strikes A Flag On A Golf Course

    This Is What Happens When Lightning Strikes A Flag On A Golf Course

    mtlgrems Report

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    #17

    What Happens To Windmills When There's Fog

    What Happens To Windmills When There's Fog

    Vmoney1337 Report

    #18

    What Happens When Nature Takes Over- This Boat On A River In Frankfurt, Germany

    What Happens When Nature Takes Over- This Boat On A River In Frankfurt, Germany

    BanAllPineapples Report

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    chi-wei shen
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Radek Suski and Foxxy (The Original): It is a science project and has been covered with plants on purpose. You can search for "Natur Ship MS Heimliche Liebe". Heimliche-...3f-png.jpg Heimliche-Liebe-5f1abb30d8b3f-png.jpg

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    #20

    This Is What Happens When The Triple Foam Breaks At The Car Wash

    This Is What Happens When The Triple Foam Breaks At The Car Wash

    GallowBoob Report

    #21

    This Is What Happens To A Basketball Court When The Pipes Burst

    This Is What Happens To A Basketball Court When The Pipes Burst

    longjohnsilvaa Report

    #22

    This Is What Happens To Mesh Patio Furniture In An Ice Storm

    This Is What Happens To Mesh Patio Furniture In An Ice Storm

    GnomishProtozoa Report

    #23

    What Happened To My Coffee Cup After I Left It Sideways For A While

    What Happened To My Coffee Cup After I Left It Sideways For A While

    madmadders Report

    #24

    What Happens When An 8-Year-Old Puts His Hand In A Petri Dish Of Agar

    What Happens When An 8-Year-Old Puts His Hand In A Petri Dish Of Agar

    anonymous_hans Report

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    #25

    This Is What Happens To Food In Antartica At -94°f/-70°c

    This Is What Happens To Food In Antartica At -94°f/-70°c

    Cyprien Verseux Report

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    Tracey Hirt
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is actually a series of photos of frozen food in Antarctica. https://www.rt.com/news/440990-frozen-food-art-antarctica/

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    #26

    I Accidentally Left A Bowl Of Beet Juice On The Counter And The Top Layer Rippled

    I Accidentally Left A Bowl Of Beet Juice On The Counter And The Top Layer Rippled

    ThePhantomDullbooth Report

    #27

    This Is What Happens When You Leave A Bike Outside Too Long

    This Is What Happens When You Leave A Bike Outside Too Long

    teton_blamer Report

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    bryguy
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is one of those cake photos isn't it? The whole bike is cake I bet

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    #28

    This Is What Happens When Lightning Strikes Asphalt

    This Is What Happens When Lightning Strikes Asphalt

    1Voice1Life Report

    #29

    This Is What Happens When You Try To Display Candles On A Hot Patio

    This Is What Happens When You Try To Display Candles On A Hot Patio

    2nie Report

    #30

    This Is What Happens When You Put A Highlighter In The Microwave In Case You Were Wondering

    This Is What Happens When You Put A Highlighter In The Microwave In Case You Were Wondering

    Dylan7225 Report

    #31

    Apparently This Is What Happens When Light Passes Through The Blinds And Hits My Trash Can

    Apparently This Is What Happens When Light Passes Through The Blinds And Hits My Trash Can

    beernerd Report

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    Troux
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is really cool! Sharing the light with the rest of the room.

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    #32

    What Happens When Water Freezes On A Spinning Wheel

    What Happens When Water Freezes On A Spinning Wheel

    NeoVeci Report

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    #33

    This Is What Happens When You Take The Ice Tray Out Of A Freezer With An Automatic Ice Maker

    This Is What Happens When You Take The Ice Tray Out Of A Freezer With An Automatic Ice Maker

    DabneyEatsIt Report

    #34

    This Is What Happens When You Fall Asleep In A Bath

    This Is What Happens When You Fall Asleep In A Bath

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    #35

    What Happened When I Tried To Take A Picture Of An Airplane Propeller

    What Happened When I Tried To Take A Picture Of An Airplane Propeller

    Domestic_Vibrator Report

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    Electric Ed
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Clearly with a digital camera! With scan rows being ... horizontal. Or is that vertical.

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    #36

    I Left A Summer Roll On My Desk For 4 Days. The Bean Sprouts Are Sprouting

    I Left A Summer Roll On My Desk For 4 Days. The Bean Sprouts Are Sprouting

    indorock Report

    #37

    This Is What Happens When You Don't Pick A Head Of Lettuce

    This Is What Happens When You Don't Pick A Head Of Lettuce

    TresidentPrump Report

    #38

    What Happens When You Open A Dollar Bill In Photoshop

    What Happens When You Open A Dollar Bill In Photoshop

    herbiclorine Report

    #40

    This Is What Happens When You Take A Picture On An iPhone At The Same Time A Flash Goes Off On Another Camera

    This Is What Happens When You Take A Picture On An iPhone At The Same Time A Flash Goes Off On Another Camera

    connorobrien46 Report

    Note: this post originally had 66 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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