I was looking for a SciFi title and ran across this.
Serendipity. Scroll down a little.
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Serendipity

Lots of accidental "inventions" and discoveries.
Looks like if you're already doing research, your odds are increased
for coming up with something new.
I'm a little disappointed. because I was thinking I could invent
something out of thin air.
So maybe I just won't invent anything. Just say the hell with it.
Not sure yet. Have to think about it.
When I get time.

--Vic