Quote:

Intention seems to work towards linear advancement, yet most of the true leaps and bounds come from accidental discoveries or even mistakes.

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We've got thinking pretty much covered. Its just our theories that suck

Not-so famous examples:
LIBRIUM - the benzodiazepines (minor tranquilizers) were "invented" when chemists botched the reaction to make Chemical A and ended up with freakish product B. Unaware of this they discovered it had great sedative powers, to later find out they made a fully freaky compound that shot their theory to hell but ushered in the Benzo era which finally rid us of those nasty barbiturates.

CHLORPROMAZINE - the whole class of antipsychotic drugs was invented as an unanticipated effect. They were trying to make a new anti-allergy medicine and ended up with Promethazine (currently in some cough syrups. This made people so drowsy they moved the dimethylamine to the gamma-position. Lo and behold! A sedative.
"Chlorinate the fucker!" this post-WW1 chemist's answer to problems was applied, and lo and behold:

a sedative was born, Chlorpromazine aka. Thorazine that did the unspeakable: some completely imploded schizophrenics actually left the chronic ward and picked up normal lifestyles. It was an unbelievable sensation to see a formerly dooming illness being so swiftly alleviated or even "cured" by this drug. The effect, called "neuroleptic" or "antipsychotic" was exploited and turned out to be seperate from most of the sedation and in most countries its now an artifact of medical history.
Exploitation of the molecule also created the -tricyclic ANTIDEPRESSANTS- which made treatment of mental depression possible as a consequence of that one variation on the hay fever theme!

LSD - The good Dr Hoffman wanted to synthesize a molecule to ease breathing. So he looked at Nikethamine (nicotinic acid diethylamide) and in a historic move attached it to his newfound d-lysergic acid, forming Lysergide aka LSD-25.
It was uninteresting stuff so he shelved the whole project.
Then years later, for no good reason at all, he re-synthesized the compound. And unbelievably the great chemist spilled a tiny bit nto himself and because it was so freakishly potent he started to trip, being an unwilling but pleasantly surprised human guinea pig.


There you have it: the four major pharmacological revolutions that rocked the 20th century.

-Benzodiazepines: the first true and good anti-anxiety meds.
-Neuroleptics: psychosis no longer condemned people to the chronic ward of the mental hospital
-Antidepressants: the scourge of depression, finally treatable in most patients.
-Psychedelics: Mescaline was known long before, but LSD made the psychedelic revolution happen which greatly fortified the social freedoms and civil rights revolutions of the time.
In the early days of Silicon Valley LSD was pretty standard equipment, strictly off the record ofcourse. So in a way the Computer Revolution started out as a psychedelic baby too


What we need is those outlandishly sloppy scientists of old! I say do away with some permits systems and let the toolshed Edisons of today at our current problems!

I seriously believe that deliberately doing things that have never been done before and defy existing logic and dogma should be sought out and explored. Example: 99% of pharms are aromatics. Now aromatics are but half of Organic chemistry, the other being aliphatic comnpounds. How about a lil venture into those areas?

Systematically seeking out outlandish experiments that are far removed from conventional thought ought to be a branch of the science tree. Logic can take you along the path of your existing assumptions. And science showed time and time again we need brand new assumptions! If the herd of sheep keeps on the path they're on they will never find the other path leading to the greener pastures.
We need that lost sheep that returns with wild tales of another path! We all woul'd've been lost without our stray sheep