In 1981, Rangaswamy Srinivasan, a chemist at IBM Research, and his colleagues embarked on a mission to identify an organic substance suitable for testing an ultraviolet excimer laser—an innovative tool capable of etching intricate designs into polymers for computer chips.
On November 27, in a moment of inspiration, Srinivasan brought some leftover Thanksgiving turkey into his laboratory for laser experimentation. After a series of trials and adjustments, he successfully produced clean, precise incisions in the turkey’s cartilage without causing any thermal damage to the surrounding tissue.
This serendipitous discovery of ablative photodecomposition paved the way for LASIK eye surgery, a procedure that requires precise alterations to the cornea’s shape to correct various vision problems. This groundbreaking technique has since transformed the lives of millions, providing a painless solution for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
Idea for Impact: The more you plunge into exploration and nurture that curious spark, the more you turn curiosity into a regular habit. To up your odds of those delightful “aha!” moments, don’t shy away from a bit of uncertainty and experimentation every now and then. Embrace the art of intelligent floundering—give new ideas a whirl and toss around a few “what if” questions. Frame your thoughts with a touch of experimentation by musing, “What if I tried it this way?” or “Why wouldn’t that work better?” You never know; your next big breakthrough might just be lurking in the leftovers, waiting for you to discover it!
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