Serendipity, Happy Errors, and Exaptation

 

 

 

 

See-Through Serendipity

The X-ray is an example of an innovation discovered while a researcher was studying a different phenomenon, making it a serendipitous discovery. In 1895, German scientist Wilhelm Röntgen was studying electricity through vacuum tubes (Babic et al., 2016). Objects in Röntgen’s laboratory began to glow with a fluorescent light. Coincidentally, a container of barium platinocyanide exuded a glow that showed on a camera used in the vacuum tube experiment. 

Röntgen hypothesized there was an unknown radiation emitted from his experiment. He continued his study, trying different strategies to block the rays. In one attempt, the researcher used his hand to block the radiation. He subsequently found that a skeletonized picture of his hand had been captured on the camera screen. Röntgen coined the term X-ray, where “x” signifies an unknown type of radiation. 

Tesla also studied X-rays, immediately grasping the importance of the discovery (Babic et al., 2016). He went on to be the first researcher to discover the harmful effects of X-ray radiation. Other researchers, such as Mihajlo Pupin, continued to pursue the research, building on Röntgen’s discovery. 

Errors to Innovation

The accident in the case of penicillin occurred from sloppy lab conditions followed by a vacation (Gaynes, 2017; Haider, 2023; Hutchings et al., 2019). A Scottish university professor and researcher in London named Alexander Fleming failed to clean some petri dishes. Returning from vacation, Fleming noticed that a petri dish was contaminated with mold. However, an area around the fungus showed no signs of bacteria. Testing the dish, Fleming isolated a Penicillium class mold. The active compound responsible for blocking bacterial growth was extracted and named penicillin. In 1941, further research on penicillin led to modern applications of the drug to fight infection.

Exaptation—NASA to an Orthodontist Near You

The exact history of NASA’s invention of translucent polycrystalline alumina (TPA) is difficult to find in literature, but United States patents date back to 1978. Ceradyne, Inc. was an aerospace contractor at that time. NASA wanted a hearty material to cover radar equipment that would not interfere with radar signals. 

In 1986, the Unitek (3M) company sought transparent orthodontic options (NASA, 1989). Ceradyne and 3M developed a product they called Transcend. Eventually, companies like Invisalign evolved the orthodontic applications to teeth aligners and began using other materials. Contemporary translucent orthodontia uses polycarbonate, polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethanes, and ethylene-vinyl acetate. 

Conclusion

Regardless of the cause, I view serendipity as a pleasant realization or acquisition. In the context of the above discussion, I consider Flemming’s discovery of penicillin serendipitous, though an error in proper laboratory procedures created the condition for the discovery. In that sense, an innovation born of errors could be considered a subset. I have experienced both types of experiences in my life. There are cases in which serendipity has saved me from potential injury. On some of those occasions, I had thoughtlessly put myself in harm’s way, constituting an error. I told myself often that I got lucky.

In other scenarios, I intentionally built on previous experience. That is the distinction I make in exaptation. It is a purpose-driven morphing of a discovery. In the 1990s, I designed a portable lift for jet skis, essentially a dolly. I recall thinking about the problem of loading and unloading the watercraft while staying at a lake house I had at the time. I was already familiar with hydraulic lifts used by mechanics, relatedly for motorcycles. I repurposed the hydraulic lift idea in the form factor of a scissor frame with guides that I had on my boat trailer. Through the exaptation of ideas and mechanisms used for other purposes, I could design the jet ski lift. I never patented the lift. Several years later, jet ski lifts became commonplace. However, that is an error topic for another discussion.

References

Babic, R. R., Stankovic Babic, G., Babic, S. R., & Babic, N. R. (2016). 120 years since the discovery of x-rays. Medicinski pregled, 69(9-10), 323–330. https://doi.org/10.2298/mpns1610323b

Gaynes R. (2017). The discovery of penicillin—new insights after more than 75 years of clinical use. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(5), 849–853. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2305.161556

Haider, R. (2023). Penicillin and the antibiotics revolution global history. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 13(1).

Hutchings, M. I., Truman, A. W., & Wilkinson, B. (2019). Antibiotics: past, present and future. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 51, 72-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.008

NASA. (1989, January 1). Invisible braces. NASA Spinoff. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20020087639