Transcript: The bare bones of the scientific method does not encompass the fact that science is done by people. In the scientific method we have to have someplace for the ideas of luck, serendipity, being in the right place at the right time, persistence, inspiration. How did these fit into the scientific method? The stories of science are full of such ideas. Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, itself an accidental discovery, once said “Fortune favors the prepared mind.” When a scientist makes what seems to be an accidental discovery it’s often because they are doing careful experiments and are noticing something that doesn’t fit a pattern or appears out of the norm. The discovery of vitamin-C dates back to a scientist noticing that citrus fruit never bruise and other fruit did and wondering why. The discovery of x-rays occurred because one scientist, Wilhelm Rontgen about one hundred years ago, noticed that certain photographic plates in his lab fogged in the presence of a radioactive source. It was an accident, but he was able to deduce that invisible rays were traveling from the radioactive source and fogging the photographic plate. The discovery of x-rays revolutionized modern medicine. When scientists make discoveries they cannot always tell where they are going to lead. When Thomas Edison first started using electricity he was asked what possible use is it. He said “What use is a new born baby?”