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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

#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
3 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.

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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.

#7

What Happens When Water Gets Really, Really Cold

What Happens When Water Gets Really, Really Cold

angry_m0nkey Report

#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.

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

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#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

#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-weishen avatar
chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 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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#19

This Is What Happens When You Fail To Thin Out Your Carrots

This Is What Happens When You Fail To Thin Out Your Carrots

weissbierdood Report

#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

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#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

#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 avatar
Tracey Hirt
Community Member
3 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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bryguy369 avatar
bryguy
Community Member
3 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 avatar
Troux
Community Member
3 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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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me think, if mermaids were real, would their hands look like this by default?

stvlor1 avatar
Steve Lor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably not since they'd be naturally adapted to water unlike humans which is why our hands get pruney for better grip. Either that or their skin wouldn't be truly human-like and more fish-oriented.

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kitty_player 03
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought the result would be something called ''drowning''

katd_1 avatar
Malakai
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this like a normal thing? Because I'd be terrified of drowning! How on earth do people manage to fall asleep like that?

donalomurchadha avatar
Dónal Ó Murchadha
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Them same happens to the skin on the soles of your feet. Its thoughts to be the body's response to being in water for sustained periods. The wrinkling of the skin creates added grip for standing and handling objects.

carressa00 avatar
Noel Bovae
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For the last few years, randomly (it seems,) my hands will get like this while being in the shower for only like 15-20 minutes. It will happen for a few days to a few weeks, then it goes away and my hands act normal again in water. Anyone have any clue what it could be? It's extremely uncomfortable, and my doctor, (and apparently Google,) don't know what it is.

bzap724 avatar
Ms Phit
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh how frustrating! I have undiagnosed weird stuff too have been searching for answers for 14 years now. My Group of doctors are inching towards a diagnosis and it seems like we may be close (and then we got shut in for the year...) Not trying to be "that person" because I know how annoying the suggestions can be, but if you're just starting your search for answers, I hope this is helpful....I've found that a good Naturopath usually will do more detailed testing and they tend to know more about obscure conditions. Good luck! Be well! Mzphit

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CatWoman312
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your skin does this not because “it’s time to get out”, as humans we are adaptable in both water and land so to be more efficient while swimming our skin “prunes” so it’s easier to grip surfaces or fish underwater.

mandygora03 avatar
BorPand8
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It kind of looks like that beet juice yeast from the other post.

markymarky270270 avatar
Mark
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a long time since I have seen that happen but not to that extreme.

lilithphillips avatar
lith
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

usually i like things that would bother people with trypophobia but this, this is not it.

don503765 avatar
Donald Holder
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn, how long where you asleep for? My wife falls asleep all the time and this has never happened to her.

lostosbourne avatar
Picture Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my youngest son was in his teens he fell asleep in the tub with it running. I woke up to hearing the smoke alarm. I went to the door of the bathroom & the floor was covered in a few inches of water. The water was dripping down into the basement & hitting the smoke alarm & making it go off. Luckily my landlord was very understanding about this. He said that he falls asleep in the tub all the time & his wife yells at him for it lol.

crystastephenson avatar
Crycket
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am done with any water activity as soon as I start getting pruny...this is a whole new level of nope for me

jacquelinewilson_1 avatar
JJM
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That looks absolutely gross and a good think you didn't drown.

s_nunns avatar
Sarah Nunns
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ha Ha! I knew the picture of the rippled beet juice above reminded me of something.

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Camilla Koutsos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My skin barrier on my hands is buggered, so I look like this after doing a load of dishes by hand.

brendanroberts avatar
Brendan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine what the rest of this person's body looked like!

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DanieLegz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could think of worse things that could have happened tbh..

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b l a n c
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ew disgusting ahhdgahhshahhsdjekns like, really cool, but really unsettling and aghhhh

bzap724 avatar
Ms Phit
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one actually made me gasp with horror! I would freak the F OUT!

tim02 avatar
Tim Douglass
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked as a pot-washer in the dining hall in college - this is how my hands looked after every shift.

pelste-liam25 avatar
MantisKeeper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"big pink raisin found in tub! boy's whereabouts unknown!"- hobbes

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Allie G.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had work boots leak at the beginning of the day with no dry replacements (learned my lesson). When I took them off in the evening this is what my feet looked like. It hurt!

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neonn_pieee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whe you're looking at just the palm, nothing else around it, it looks like Sherpa.

dankerlau avatar
Missus Magoo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh a little bit of sick in my mouth. One step away from dead. Ugh

ellirahim avatar
Elli Rahim
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fascinatingly unreal - would make great character design for an alien look in sci-fi.

martti avatar
Martti Laurson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happens because your skin is full of dead skin cells and these suck in water and expand. Live cells do not let water in and therefore you have uneven skin.

ewing-clare avatar
Clare E
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Incorrect. It's an evolutionary throwback to improve grip in water.

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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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ed_25 avatar
Electric Ed
Community Member
3 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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