Accidental Inventions That Reshaped Our World
<p>In the mid-19th century, the world of chemistry and fashion collided unexpectedly, thanks to the efforts of a young chemist named <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fq%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencehistory.org%2Feducation%2Fscientific-biographies%2Fwilliam-henry-perkin%2F%26amp%3Bsa%3DD%26amp%3Bsource%3Deditors%26amp%3Bust%3D1705781894507229%26amp%3Busg%3DAOvVaw2gUf9qY5tCBnw1dfwJNys5&sa=D&ust=1705781894515878&usg=AOvVaw2WmsZUuI0Kn4Hqr4gIN_t9" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">William Perkin</a>.</p>
<p>His accidental discovery reshaped the dye industry, leaving a lasting impact on the fashion world. An 18-year-old academic at the Royal College of Chemistry, Perkin embarked on an experiment that was set to change the course of his life and many others.</p>
<p>Under the guidance of August Wilhelm von Hoffman, Perkin’s initial task was ambitious yet seemingly straightforward. He was to attempt converting coal tar, a sticky by-product of gas production, into quinine. Quinine, a substance used to treat malaria, was traditionally extracted from tree bark in a labor-intensive process.</p>
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