Accidental Discoveries
From Laughing Gas to Dynamite
by Larry Verstraete

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Accidental Discoveries - a man inhales laughing gas...and feels no pain in his leg - a blast of water in a bathroom leads to a billion dollar invention - a scientist dreams the answer to the question that had him stumped - a spill creates an explosive even more powerful than dynamite Some discoveries come about by logic and reasoning. Others happen because of blunders, fumbles and freaky circumstances - in short, by accident. Over 80 stories about the stumbles, goofs, and strange twists that have resulted in amazing breakthroughs from laughing gas to dynamite.

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Praise for Accidental Discoveries: “A quirky, entertaining resource.”— Kitchener Waterloo Record “Readers will be fascinated.”— A Guide to Canadian Books “Verstraete delivers the information in easy to read, entertaining, and conversational prose to appeal to the very young as well as to adults.”— CM Magazine. “A well-written and often amusing exploration of the origins of a wide variety of inventions.” — Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Shortlisted for the Norma Fleck Award for Non-fiction. Selected, CBC Radio Recommended Reading List

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Larry Verstraete is the award-winning author of many books including S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet, At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times, Surviving the Hindenburg, and Whose Bright Idea Was It?, A literacy advocate and travel enthusiast, he lives in Winnipeg, Canada. For more about Larry and his books, or for supplementary resource materials, visit www.larryverstraete.com.

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Larry Verstraete

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