Microwave ovens
Inventor: Percy Spencer, an engineer with the Raytheon Corporation.
What he was trying to make: In 1946, Spencer was conducting a radar-related research project with a new vacuum tube.
How it was created: While experimenting with the tube, a candy bar in Spencer's pocket started to melt. Already a holder of 120 patents, Spencer grabbed some unpopped popcorn kernels and held them by the device.
Sure enough, they started to pop. Spencer knew he had a revolutionary device — and an enabler to lazy cooks everywhere.