Serendipity

Serendipity refers to the phenomenon of making fortunate discoveries by accident as a result of sagacity. The term was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754 in a letter describing the adventures of the Three Princes of Serendip, who were constantly making discoveries by chance while applying their keen wit. Serendip, the old name for Sri Lanka, provided the origin of the word. Since then, serendipity has been used to describe unexpected, beneficial findings that arise while pursuing something else.

Serendipity is often distinguished from mere luck; it involves recognizing a meaningful result in hindsight and requiring a prepared, observant mind. The idea is encapsulated in the notion often attributed to Louis Pasteur, that chance favors the prepared mind, though the exact wording is a later paraphrase of earlier sentiments. Cultivating readiness to notice unexpected connections—across fields, ideas, or technologies—can increase the likelihood of serendipitous outcomes in research and daily life.

In science and technology, serendipity has contributed to several landmark discoveries. Alexander Fleming’s 1928 observation of mold inhibiting bacterial growth led to penicillin. Percy Spencer’s 1945 discovery of the microwave oven followed a melted candy bar during radar research. The development of Post-it Notes arose when 3M chemist Spencer Silver created a weak, repositionable adhesive, later popularized by Art Fry.

Serendipity influences fields such as scientific research, innovation, and everyday life. Some researchers seek to cultivate it through cross-disciplinary exposure, open-ended exploration, and careful documentation of unexpected observations.