10. Mauve!
Inventor: William Perkin
Year: 1856
What Happened: He was intent on discovering a cure for one of the deadliest diseases in the world, malaria.
Big Discovery: While trying to replicate the malaria fighter quinine in his laboratory, Perkin inadvertently discovered the color mauve instead.
As a Result: Perkin forgot about malaria and made a mint establishing the synthetic dye industry.
Want to delve even deeper? Meet these 7 inventors who regretted their inventions, and check out these 16 things you never knew were invented by women.
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Source: RD.com
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