SERENDIPITY AND SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERY
Martin F. Rosenman
ABSTRACT
Serendipity has payed acacia role sclence. The mar ofthe most
important end rerlonay discoveries in balgy ard medicine hee @
terendptous element in thom (Beveridge, 1957, 1980) few examples
fare the dicovery of pviclin, heparin, Dramamine, X-ray, the Gram
“taining technique, the pancreas role In dabei, and the anesthetic
(fects of ether and nitrous onde, In ther area of science, the covery
putas, cece caren, the conmecon Between elecicty ant
‘magnet, and he dteton of cosmic mierowave radiation background
fl involved seenlptow event
INTRODUCTION
Serendipity bs plyed cial ole io seience. The malay ofthe most impo.
tun and revolsonayditcoreris i logy and medicine have a serendipitous
‘ment ia them (Beveddge, 1957, 1980). A few examples ac the discovery
‘Sf penn, bern, owing Kay, the Gra sing technigue. the
ioe role in date, nd the snes effects of ter and ious oxide
Tnoter areas of lence, te discovery of plas lc carey, th connection
between electrty and mignon, and the detection of cosmic microwave
‘aio bekgroan, all involved seeptoas evens,
ag ete cto Yep.
sien yore
a7Py MARTIN F, ROSENMAN
‘THE PRINCES OF SERENDIP: CHANCE AND
‘THE PREPARED MIND.
‘The word srenaipiy was coined by Horace Walpole, ax eceatic English
wrt, ina leter to Sit Horace Maga ia 1754 "This discovery Is almost of
that kind which Tell serendipity, very expressive wor... once read &
tly fry tale ale The Thre Princes of Serendip as theirighnesses wveled
they were always making discoveries, by accidents and saga of hings which
they were notin guest of."
‘Almost al reset populr dictionaries have changed Wales definition of
serendipity althoogh they sil ret him with be ogi of he werd. Examples
‘of recent definition incade “he fay of making provident ditcoveres by
tecident” (Noah Webster’), "te facly of fading valuable hngs not sought
for" (Meram Webser’s), and "an apie fr making desinble discoveries by
tecident” (Random Hoa). The ke word sagacty bs bees omited. Sagacity,
Getind as penewating inelignce, ken preepon and sand judgment, is
key elameot of serendipity.
the orginal story, eigacty permeates the Uves of Th Thee Pinces of
Serendip. Although they've been inrecy portryed a bos who Keep
tccidennly bamping into good fortune, thle etal bles re moe aia to
those of Strick Holes.
"The thee princes reeived the best formal education posse. The King
cores realized whea hs sos had eae the peak of tir book knowledge
td decide their Frtheredbcaton best come fom the exince of taveing
in other lands.
In Peni, the thee princes encountered a camel drive searching for is
sui. Trough aie bseraton the pances were ble determine dha tbe
Camel was bind in one eye, musing a tod, and lame. sey also coocioded
‘ha the animal was careying lod of bute on obese, tone om the che,
tnd a pegnat woman. Convinced tat only thieves could ow such deta,
the camel driver had he princes areted, Whee the alsing camel was
subsequent found the princes were asked how they were ale to determine
ro many deals. The aneer,of couse, reles more on saguiy than on chance.
‘Te botbes, in tur, confessed the following
ap emt ve be Md ih ee ay ep hy he et
1 aero ena eo ga
sooth el ar etc ny re ge we aly nnd
erase oth pt geSeen nd Seif Dicey 18.
Tipe et cml nd to ect warty
nn eo tad | on he ese tee ts easy
frye wre oe al
‘sedicoe enuntceesaeebctbaa
ote peo
{femdom be on pz cd ity owe ot
‘a ep woh ate wt
Cfony by ass (Of le Nee (99,
‘shan! Como 98)
‘This excemt was sleet usa the peaces' Keen perception and intl
enc, although i falls to dsplay tee good judgment. Throghout the ret of
the story, ter highly developed mental pownrs enable ham wo ake advantage
ofthe chance opportunites they encounter.
‘The Princes of Serendip hav Wir pall inthe scenic word. Perhaps
the most famous example of seen ise discovery of pein,» sory
‘which essential ears the power iatencton of chance Wi he prepared
‘ad
FLEMMING AND FENICILLIN
‘When Alexander Flemming noted a mold had grown in one of his cltre
dishes an the sapylocoraleclones around the meld wee dead e decid
to explore this promising led, A as 28 seit baived Flaming rept
mold killing one or mae colonies of bacteria daring an experiment, ut all
‘hore to view it ata unfortaat or rae: than an opportunity for discovery
(Galy, 197), For example, Soot noticed te inhibiton of « suphylococeal
fclony by a mol be viewed it os a mosaoe. He ler empbasied that
Fleming's discovery was mainly atbulshe to teas is sling an ope
tut others had le pars ther than det jst pre chance (Sot, 1947)
‘What uted Fleming to pute the prossing lead that was ignored by 0
many scents before i? There Is 0 sogle answer. As Ausin (197?)
observes, "the mest novel if pt the greatest discoveries cour when weveral
Jove of chance coincide"
Nise yeas befor hs discovery of pein, Femming observed that
the bacteria in one of ht dies dad afer being contamitd wi is misal