Letters Archive

A singed eyelash accident in 1913 led a brother to mix coal dust with petroleum jelly, creating the first commercial mascara and a billion-dollar industry. This accidental discovery shows how everyday problems can spark world-changing innovations.

A German immigrant noticed gold miners' pockets kept tearing and created a solution with copper rivets. This practical fix for workwear transformed into the world's most popular clothing item, showing how paying attention to real problems can lead to extraordinary innovations.

A tasty drink that disappeared from store shelves reveals the same forces that crashed the entire stock market in 1929. When confidence vanishes and everyone rushes to sell at once, prices can collapse overnight, showing how our economy depends on a delicate balance of trust.

The assassination that triggered World War I almost didn't happen - twice. A hunting accident nearly killed the Archduke months earlier, and on the fateful day, a wrong turn and stalled car placed him directly in front of his assassin. These tiny moments of chance show how history hangs by the thinnest of threads.

During World War II, a simple tube of lipstick became an unexpected symbol of freedom. As Hitler expressed hatred for red lipstick, Allied women turned it into a powerful act of patriotism, showing how even small personal choices can become meaningful statements during difficult times.

In the 1870s, Henry Heinz noticed food companies were hiding poor quality products in dark bottles. By putting good ketchup in clear glass bottles, he changed how food was sold and built a company that has lasted for 150 years, showing how seeing what others miss can lead to big success.

A wounded Civil War veteran trying to make headache medicine accidentally created the world's most famous soft drink. His failed pain remedy transformed into a global sensation, showing how adapting to unexpected results can lead to extraordinary success.

A doctor made small cuts in patients' knees but performed no actual surgery. Amazingly, these patients reported the same pain relief as those who had real operations, showing how our expectations can sometimes heal us as effectively as medical procedures.