Not What They Meant to Make
But Exactly What We Needed
SMOKE DETECTORS Poison gas was a defining feature of World War I, and because of this, Swiss physicist Walter Jaeger started looking into ways to detect poison gas during the 1930s. He created a sensor, but instead of detecting anything poisonous, it detected the smoke coming from Jaeger’s cigarette. Due to cost, it would take decades for the invention to become mainstream. In the 1950s, smoke detectors became more common in industrial spaces, but it wasn’t until the ’70s that the devices became more prevalent in homes. POST-IT NOTES Imagine creating one thing when you were trying to invent the complete opposite. That’s essentially the story behind Post-it Notes. Dr. Spencer Silver was trying to create stronger, tougher adhesives when he developed microspheres, an adhesive that retained its stickiness while being easily removable. He failed to find a use for his invention for years, but that changed when he needed a bookmark that wouldn’t damage the page. From there, his creativity snowballed until Post-its became a reality.
When you imagine the greatest inventors of our time creating their ingenious new products, you likely picture someone in front of a chalkboard full of equations. We like to think they had a specific idea and kept tweaking their processes and thoughts until they struck gold. While this does happen, it’s not uncommon for inventors to discover a completely different product, idea, or service when attempting to craft their intended invention. Here are three life-changing inventions that were nothing more than happy accidents. SUPERGLUE During WWII, Harry Coover researched chemicals called cyanoacrylates while trying to find ways to make clear plastic for military gunsights. Unfortunately, these chemicals proved too sticky for that purpose, and scientists quickly moved on to a more realistic option. Years later, Coover worked in a Kodak chemical plant, where he researched heat-resistant polymers for jet airplane canopies. Cyanoacrylates entered the picture once again, and this time, Coover realized they required no heat or pressure to bond. His team applied the substance to various items in their lab, sticking them together. Thus, superglue was created.
True to 2
Post-Divorce Friendship Without Sides
A divorce or separation can devastate more than just the couple and their children and family members. Most marriages aren’t just unions between two people; they’re often unions between the partners’ mutual friends. In addition to the emotions from seeing two people they care about split up, friends can sometimes be unsure of how to navigate being present, supportive, and unbiased to either or both sides. Here are two considerations for remaining an impartial friend without finding yourself stuck on battle lines. MANEUVERING THE MIDDLE If your circle of friends often revolved around a married couple, divorce can send those close connections into a tailspin. Suddenly, you feel pressured to take sides or may find yourself being a sounding board — perhaps reluctantly — for both former spouses. How can you remain a true friend to both when loyalty is on the line? There’s no definitive answer to this question, but setting healthy boundaries with each party is often a great start. If you don’t have the emotional capacity to hear derogatory or hurtful things about the other side, you can communicate your position respectfully while still being supportive. Perhaps your time spent with either spouse could be based on fun activities or events that help them focus on things other than their divorce. Of course, certain circumstances surrounding a separation —
such as when one spouse grossly mistreated the
other — may prompt you to support one side more readily, but that choice should always be yours to make. EMBRACING YOUR FRIENDS’ NEED FOR SPACE Here’s something that may be difficult to read as a friend of a
newly divorced or separated couple: Even if you’re working hard to be there for both sides, one or both of them may start spending less time with you. In some cases, their absence may not even be related to your friendship with their ex; it may just be a matter of their wanting to broaden their experiences, try new things, and meet new people to heal and grow during or after the divorce. If the texts don’t appear as often as they once did, give your friend some time. They’ll likely come back around once they feel more comfortable and fulfilled through pursuing other interests.
2 — rbbfirm.com
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