Gone Sideways Serendipity in Science
(eVideo)

English

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on Dec. 31, 2009.

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Chance plays an enormous role in many major scientific discoveries. In this program, host David Suzuki explores three serendipitous, or chance, findings in medical, technological, and paleontological research. Segment one focuses on Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming, who stumbled upon penicillin when his poor housekeeping allowed mold to start growing on a petri dish of bacteria. Segment two spotlights amateur inventor George de Mestral, who took a walk, noticed burs adhering to his clothing, examined their structure under his microscope, and went on to create Velcro. And segment three tells the story of a railroad surveyor working in British Columbia who unintentionally found trilobite fossils in the rocks. Includes discussion of what makes serendipitous discoveries possible.

11 & up.

Mode of access: Internet.

System requirements: Access Video On Demand playback platform.

Closed-captioned.