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Book Chapter
This case study deals with how advancements in science and engineering are often unexpected yet lead to valuable applications. In this lesson, students explore a metal that can be bent and, when lightly heated, “remembers” and springs back into i...
Book Chapter
Harnessing the Color of Nature
In this lesson, students explore how certain organisms, including some plant and animal species, display beautiful iridescent colors when light interacts with nanoscale structures on their surfaces. The activity on structural color and iridescence w...
Book Chapter
This case study features a summary of the history of artificial dye. In this lesson, students learn how artificial dye was accidentally discovered and subsequently used in new applications. They examine indicators as a way to test pH levels and a...
Book Chapter
This case study features a summary of how new products were made to mimic shark skin. In this lesson, students will learn about shark skin and bacteria and a product developed to mimic shark skin. They will focus on how this material was developed ...
Book Chapter
This case study features a summary of an adhesive developed using the same principles as those used by gecko feet. In this lesson, students explore Gecko Feet Adhesives. Geckos are able to hang by one toe from a smooth surface and researchers have ...
Book Chapter
This case study contains a summary of a study on seahorse tails. In this lesson, students consider how researchers studied seahorse tails and then they work together to think of new ways in which the structure can be used to solve real-life problem...
Book Chapter
This case study provides a summary of the history of Corn Flakes. In the lesson, students explore the history of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and the applications of corn-based products that can provide food and energy sources for human consumption. The d...
Book Chapter
Get Fired Up With Friction Lights
This case study provides a summary of the history and science of matches. In the lesson, students consider how matches were discovered and work together to think about new applications for matches to solve real-life problems. Matches, also called f...
Book Chapter
This case study provides a summary of the discovery and history of plastics. Students consider how plastic was discovered and work together to think about new applications for plastic to solve real-life problems. They explore plastics that are not ...
Book Chapter
This case study provides a summary of the invention of Post-It Notes. In this lesson, students learn about the invention which resulted from an accidental discovery that has led to them being a household item. Students also learn about the properti...
Book Chapter
This case study provides a summary of the invention of Silly Putty, along with recipes for students to make toy putty. In this lesson, students explore the unintended discovery of silly putty, as well as non-Newtonian fluids. Students consider how ...
Book Chapter
This case study provides a summary about the discovery of saccharin. In this lesson, students learn about the accidental discovery and the chemistry behind this innovation. They learn about redox reactions and how to identify the oxidizing and reduc...
Book Chapter
Saving Lives Through an Accident
This case study provides a summary and history on the discovery of glass. In this lesson, students learn about ordinary glass and two types of glass—laminated and tempered—that have unique safety characteristics. After reading about the accidenta...
Book Chapter
This case study provides a summary and history of a study on cholera. In this lesson, students explore how researchers developed a new solution to cholera outbreaks in some regions of the world. After watching women use their sari to filter insects...
Book Chapter
This case study features a summary about the history of the Slinky. In this lesson, students learn about the accidental invention of the slinky which is a coil spring (also called a helical spring). Students review different uses for coil springs a...