Superglue, a powerful adhesive found in almost every household, was discovered entirely by accident. In 1942, Dr. Harry Coover, a chemist at Eastman Kodak, was searching for materials to make clear plastic gun sights during World War II. He stumbled upon a chemical compound called cyanoacrylate, which turned out to be incredibly sticky and quick to bond. However, because it was too sticky for his intended purpose, he dismissed it as a failure and moved on.
It wasn't until 1951 that Coover revisited cyanoacrylate while working on another project. This time, he realized its potential as an adhesive. In 1958, the compound was commercialized as "Superglue." Its ability to bond almost instantly to various materials made it an instant success. Today, Superglue is used in countless applications, from household repairs to medical procedures, all thanks to an initial oversight that turned into a revolutionary discovery.