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What is Serendipity?

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Serendipity is a word that means "pleasant surprise" that's often used to describe the role of chance in scientific discoveries.
There are dozens of examples in the history of science in which an important theory was discovered seemingly by chance after years of working on a problem. Examples include Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin and Isaac Newton's laws of universal gravitation that he described as a sudden inspiration after watching an apple fall from a tree.
Overview: Serendipity
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Decision Making
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It is often said that taking frequent breaks can lead to productivity improvement. This may be particularly true of intensive problem solving activities. Often a new idea forms when you leave a problem alone for a few moments.

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