Serendipity
Serendipity is finding something unexpected and useful while searching for something else entirely. For instance, the discovery of the antibacterial properties of penicillin by Alexander Fleming is said to have been serendipitous, because he was merely cleaning up his laboratory when he discovered that the Penicillium mould had contaminated one of his old experiments.
Related terms
William Boyd coined the term zemblanity to mean somewhat the opposite of serendipity: "making unhappy, unlucky and expected discoveries occurring by design".{{Ref|1}} It derives from Novaya Zemlya (or Nova Zembi), a cold, barren land with many features opposite to the lush Sri Lanka (Serendip).
Related Topics:
William Boyd - Novaya Zemlya
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~ Table of Content ~
| ► | Introduction |
| ► | Serendipitous discoveries and inventions |
| ► | Origin of the term |
| ► | Related terms |
| ► | Bibliography |
| ► | References |
| ► | External links |
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