Percy Spencer, an engineer at Raytheon, was working with a magnetron, a device that generated microwaves for radar systems. During a break, Spencer noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. Curious, he held a popcorn kernels near the magnetron and they popped. This accidental discovery led to the invention of the microwave oven in 1945.

Spencer’s team recognized the potential of this finding and began experimenting with heating food using microwaves. Initial prototypes were large and expensive, but over time, microwave technology became smaller, more affordable, and revolutionized the way we cook.

Prompt:
What technological advancement, often taken for granted today, had a surprisingly bizarre or unexpected origin story?