14. Saccharin
Dating back in 1879, saccharin is the first artificial sweetener ever discovered. The person responsible for this accidental scientific discovery (and invention) made by mistake was Constantine Fahlberg. He was experimenting one day in his laboratory trying to figure out some new food preservatives. But the realization of the discovery came outside the laboratory – while he was eating his lunch without previously washing his hands, then he realized he had discovered something really sweet.