subject: The Tales Of Unlucky Innovations And Miserable Creators [print this page] Many inventions have been of good use to the mankind and developed the science and technical progress considerably. But the good inventions didn't assist the inventors themselves and didnt make them happy although they changed the whole world.
Gum
In the 18th century rubber was introduced to Eurpean people. It wasn't regarded as a beneficial material first since it would melt when it's hot and break into pieces when it is cold. Charles Nelson Goodyear studied the properties of rubber to create a new material. He wasted all the money he had on the chemical agents and rubber although he had made big debts by that time. He invented the technologies of vulcanization by chance when he put the mixture of rubber and sulfur directly into the oven. This invention was patented by others, and Charles Goodyear died without money.
Pressure-cooker
Denis Papin invented the pressure-cooker in 1679 and it hasn't altered much since that time. He assisted some other researchers of that time. The pressure-cooker ( digester as Denis Papin called it) was the first try to make an invention by himself. Though the innovation appeared to be a success, it wasn't popular. Denis Papin went to Germany where he continued the research of steam. He succeeded to build the steamboat but got destroyed and died soon .
Cardan Shaft
Girolamo Cardano was the Italian medic and astrologist. His life was designated by many failures. He foretold the day of his death and was wrong, so he had to put it off. His children became criminals. Girolamo Cardano was accused of plagiarism in the studies of algebra and imprisoned for making the horoscope of Christ. But he was able to invent the mechanism that became the basis for gyroscope and cardan shaft which didn't change much since that time.
