It’s no secret that hipsters are ridiculed. What is more opaque is the definition of a hipster, but the fact remains that being a hipster is associated with trying too hard to be different. What makes someone a hipster can be as varied as how they get their caffeine, their transportation choices, or their fashion sense. What unites all people deemed hipsters, however, is that they try to not follow mainstream trends.

SEE ALSO: 10 Reasons Millennials Are No Different From Any Other Generation

One of the ways hipsters try to avoid mainstream trends is by creating their own, but many hipster trends are not new at all. Indeed, the following ten trends are decades, and sometimes even centuries, old. Perhaps if the hipsters spent less time schmoozing with Instagram thots and more time reading their Bible, they might have heard the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes 1:10: “Nihil sub sole novum” (there is nothing new under the sun).

10Almond Milk

Before people decided to put almond milk in their coffee to save calories or avoid dairy, it was used in medieval cooking. Instead of consuming almond milk to follow a trendy diet, medieval people employed almond milk in their recipes for more practical reasons. During Lent, Christians could not eat dairy products, meat, or eggs, and almond milk served as a suitable alternative to milk. Egg and butter substitutes were also made with almond. Almond milk was also popular throughout the calendar year because of how easily milk spoiled in those days before refrigeration. It was employed not only in desserts, but also in more savory dishes with meat.

Despite the popularity of almond milk, it was a luxury. Not everyone could afford it for everyday consumption because of its high price. Instead, the majority of people would likely have enjoyed almond milk only when they were ill, as medieval doctors argued for its effectiveness in helping soothe the sick who probably needed an energy boost after the same doctors bled them. While almond milk was a drink of the wealthier classes during medieval times, lower prices today means it is more accessible and people can enjoy it in their coffee, in their cereal, or by itself without being Warren Buffett.^[1]

9 Coffee Was The Drink to Die For

A drink enjoyed by a variety of people, from hipsters to those working late-night shifts, is coffee. Much like today, Arabs in the 16th century and Europeans in the 17th century flocked to coffeehouses to enjoy the beverage and the conversation of others. While people today visit cafés and sip coffee while working on their laptops, learned people of the 17th and 18th centuries also visited coffeehouses to work. When it came time for the American colonies to rebel against the King, coffee began to replace tea as the beverage of choice in America. John Adams even wrote to his wife, lamenting of how tea was superior, but he would drink coffee to show his loyalty to the colonial cause.

While Adams may not have been fond of coffee, some people were willing to risk their lives to drink it. Under the rule of Sultan Murad IV, residents of the Ottoman Empire could lose their lives for consuming the beverage. Murad IV’s fatwa against coffee was so thorough that he would dress himself as an ordinary citizen and behead his subjects as they drank coffee. His heir made coffee a capital crime only if someone was caught drinking it twice. The reason coffee scared powerful rulers was that it stimulates ideas without disabling people in the way that alcohol does. Much like hipsters have made coffee a daily drink for millions today, forward-thinkers of previous centuries catapulted the drink into mainstream culture. Saint Drogo be praised!^[2]

Related: 10 Creative Ways To Enjoy Coffee Besides Drinking It

8 Vegetarian and Vegan Diets

Vegetarian and vegan diets have been promoted for thousands of years for a wide variety of reasons. While today such diets are sometimes criticized as affordable only for the wealthy, they were eaten by a variety of people in the ancient world. Some Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists have followed vegan or vegetarian diets for thousands of years.

Vegetarian diets (excluding eggs) were eaten by Taoist and Buddhist nuns and monks during the 4th century in China. Ancient Greek thinkers such as Apollonius of Tyana, Plotinus, and Pythagoras all followed diets that minimized the amount of meat or animal products eaten. While many people throughout history eschewed meat for religious reasons, more people today are following vegan and vegetarian diets for ethical reasons born out of secular — instead of spiritual — concerns.^[3]

Related: 9 Reasons To Reject Vegetarianism

7 Sugar Alternatives

Today people use everything from artificial sweeteners to stevia to agave nectar as a substitute for cane sugar. In the 18th and 19th centuries, people looked for alternatives to cane sugar for a different reason: slavery. Opponents of slavery saw maple syrup as a viable alternative to sugar cane. By buying maple syrup, abolitionists could sweeten their palates without the moral guilt associated with buying cane sugar.

Sugar cane alternatives were also found for purely economic reasons. During the Napoleonic wars, the British blockade left France without access to sugar cane. Napoleon turned to sugar beet as an alternative sweetener at the suggestion of French scientists. He encouraged domestic production of sugar beet, which drove down the price of sugar and transformed sweets from a luxury to an affordable treat.The amount of sugar consumed in Europe increased by nearly 300% in the 19th century alone. Nowadays, hipsters use maple syrup as a “natural” alternative to sugar and sugar beet is no longer seen as trendy or innovative.^[4]

6 Alternative Currencies

Today, alternative currencies from Bitcoin to Trumpcoin are used by people as a status symbol and a way to show political affiliation. In true hipster fashion, some people seek out alternative currencies that are obscure precisely because of their obscurity. Centuries before cryptocurrencies became mainstream, the Roman empire allowed local governments to mint their own coins. These coins were used alongside the denarius, the universal coin used in the Roman empire.

While cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are often used by customers to support libertarian ideals, alternative currencies in Ancient Rome were likely employed to foster togetherness in local communities. In Pompeii, bronze coins were frequently used instead of denarii in local and inexpensive transactions. In Ancient Egypt, lead tokens were used as an alternative form of currency during a coin shortage — likely for similar reasons as the bronze coins of Pompeii. While the concept of alternative currencies may not be new, what makes cryptocurrencies different is its decentralized nature.^[5]

Related: 10 Reasons Why Bitcoin Will Fail

5 Collecting Antiques

Before there were reality TV shows featuring enthusiastic bargainers searching for antiques and hipsters combing through consignment shops for vintage clothing, people looked at art as something to hoard. Art was amassed in ancient Egypt, Babylon, India, and China by wealthy and powerful individuals. It was a status symbol, much like jeans from the 1960s and 19th century table linens are today. The ancient Greeks began the appreciation of antique art and the Romans continued that craze once they conquered Greece. The Romans glorified Greek culture and art and wealthy Romans sought out Greek artwork to add to their collections. Much like people today buy replicas of antiques, Romans would sometimes pay to have Greek sculptures replicated. Desire for Greek art even led unwitting Romans to buy forgeries.

During the Renaissance, wealthy individuals amassed private collections of art, making Greek art popular once again. In time, however, private collections became replaced by public ones as monarchs began allowing common people to see their collections. Some individuals even gave their colections over to the public. Nowadays, people can search on eBay for antiques or visit a museum, meaning we don’t have to be hipsters or millionaires to enjoy art from the past.^[6]

4 Socks With Sandals

Socks with sandals is either the greatest footwear combination or the most grievous fashion sin ever conceived depending on who you ask. Centuries before hipsters decided that socks with sandals were fashionable, Roman legionaries donned similar footwear. In 2010, archaeologists in North Yorkshire found a Roman sandal. What was remarkable about the sandal was the traces of fibers left on it. These fibers may have been the remnants of a sock.

Romans were known to wear socks, so it would not be much of a jump to conclude that legionnaires may have worn them with their sandals. Doing so would have kept their feet insulated against the cold and protected them from thorns. While today socks with sandals are seen as a sign that one is lacking in style, Romans legionnaires likely saw the combination as a practical way to keep their feet battle-ready.^[7]

3 Leggings

Leggings have catapulted into mainstream society, but they still manage to cause controversy. Leggings have a long history of being accepted, however. On the Great Plains, Native American women wore leggings made of animal skins for modesty — bare ankles were deemed inappropriate — and to shield their legs from the elements. While in the 21st century leggings are oftentimes associated with women who practice yoga, leggings were once primarily worn by men in Europe. European leggings were first created by William Lee in the 1500s and two centuries later, they were sported by men whose jobs or leisure activities included physical labor. Women took up leggings during the sexual revolution of the 1960s and the fitness craze of the 1980s and today, leggings are primarily worn by women. However, meggings are growing in popularity, though they may be more popular with hipsters than your average Joe.^[8]

2 Anti-Capitalism

Anti-capitalism is not something invented by hipsters in coffee shops sipping their caramel macchiatos with a dash of almond milk or even by Karl Marx. With the formation of capitalism came opposition to it. Although terms such as capitalism and socialism are relatively new in terms of human history, anti-capitalist sentiments have been expressed for centuries. The Greek poet Hesiod wrote of how men had fallen from the Golden Age when things were shared and humankind experienced peace to the greed and strife of the Iron Age.

Similarly, Greeks were criticized by themselves and others for their markets and merchants. In ancient Rome, merchants were vilified by thinkers like Cicero as dishonest and playwrights such as Plautus mocked them. Early Catholics and Protestants railed against merchants and John Calvin even compared them to prostitutes. Throughout history, greed has been seen as sinful and by characterizing market-driven economies as run by greed, thinkers have criticized capitalism long before the term was coined. It is little wonder, then, that anti-capitalist sentiments are still harbored today. Of course no one fails to see the irony of a hipster wearing a Che Guevara (“chay” – the “ch” is pronounced like “chain” not “shape”) tee-shirt in a Starbucks on their iPhone (except perhaps the hipster himself).^[9]

Related: 10 Reasons Why Communism Sucks

1 Hipsters Themselves

Even hipsters themselves are not new. There have always been those who have subverted social norms and hipsters are the latest group to earn the ire of mainstream society. While hipsters of the modern era draw near-universal scorn, hipsters of the 1930s to 1950s are less well-known these days. The word hipster began as an adjective, hip, used to describe those fond of jazz before becoming a noun. Black jazz musicians inspired the very first hipsters — mostly white men from well-off families — to rebel against social norms. Hipsters entertained notions of nihilism and focused on separating themselves socially from society.

Hipsters experienced a revival greater than their genesis after kids from the 1990s decided to embrace their nostalgia for times they had never lived in. As hipster culture merged with mainstream culture, alternative music and art became mainstream or forgotten. The hipsters of today are different from the first hipsters much like almond milk is used for different purposes today. While many elements of hipster culture are appropriated instead of created, hipsters do help make old ideas trendy again.

The pic above is Allen Ginsberg, the great hipster poet of the 1950s. As you can see, the modern hipsters don’t even have a unique appearance: even that is copied from the original hipsters – from the denim and plaid, to the beard and thick rimmed glasses! For a real treat, here is a video of Ginsberg reading his poem Howl which was so scandalous it led to an obscenity trial! It is one of the masterpieces of the era.^[10]

About The Author: Alexandra loves guinea pigs, reading, and writing.

Have you ever wondered how your favorite foods were invented?

Most of us probably envision a chef or a food company employee experimenting endlessly to craft the perfect concoction for palates that are tired of the same old thing. A pinch of this, a dash of that, and voila! Finally, after days or even months of hard work, a new food is created.

As it turns out, pure dumb luck is often the greatest inventor of all. Here are 10 favorite foods that came about by complete accident.

10 Popsicles

In 1905, Frank Epperson invented the Popsicle. This delicious fruity treat is something that almost everyone has tasted. When it is hot in the summer, it is good to have your fridge stuffed with these treats.

Frank was only 11 years old when he invented these ice pops. This child had received some soda-making equipment and was excited to start producing soda. Accidentally, he left the sugary mixture out overnight.

The night was bitterly cold. By the next morning, the stick he had used to stir the soda had frozen into the mixture.

The young inventor proceeded to lick the soda blend off the stick. He called it the “Epsicle,” naming it after himself. Then he started to sell his concoction to neighbors and friends in his area. They all enjoyed the sweet treat. In 1924, he patented his invention and renamed it as “Popsicle.”^[1]

9 Chocolate Chip Cookies

In 1930, Ruth Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie. You may be wondering how such a delicious treat could have been created by complete mistake. But, of course, it was. Surprisingly enough, she and her loving husband owned a tourist lodge called the Toll House Inn.

One day at the inn, she was making chocolate cookies for her many guests and discovered that she had run out of baker’s chocolate, one of the key ingredients. Instead of running to the store to grab more baker’s chocolate, she chopped up some Nestle chocolate and put it into the cookie batter.

She assumed that the Nestle chocolate would spread out to create a whole chocolate cookie when it was baked in the oven. Instead, she invented the chocolate chip cookie.^[2] This one little mistake created greatness in America’s food history.

8 Ice Cream Cones

In 1904, Arnold Fornachou created ice cream cones—with some help from a fellow vendor. Business was booming on that hot summer day, and eventually, Arnold ran out of plastic cups in which to serve his mouthwatering ice cream. Luckily, a pastry chef was selling pastries nearby and came to Arnold’s rescue.^[3]

The pastry chef had some waffles left over. He showed Arnold how to roll them up to form a cone-like shape that would easily hold a good amount of ice cream. This was a delicious way to serve ice cream, and Arnold’s customers loved it.

Today, ice cream is served in wafer cones, waffle cones, kiddie cones, and even waffle cone bowls. We can all thank Arnold Fornachou and the pastry chef for this great invention.

7 The Sandwich

In the 1700s, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, discovered that two slices of bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and mustard inside tasted delicious. His story, you ask? There are many versions that suggest why and how the sandwich was made.

One popular tale is that John Montagu gambled a lot. It took up so much of his time that he could not possibly leave an intense card game. So he often requested that meat be brought to him between two thin slices of bread. That way, he could eat a meal without using a fork or getting his hands dirty by directly touching the meat.^[4]

Another version of the story is that Montagu sat at his desk for hours, trying to create a utensil-free meal that could fill up his stomach and still be easy to eat. Eventually, he came up with the sandwich.

As time went on, people thought of the different types of sandwiches that we eat today. People now fill sandwiches with meat, veggies, sauces, and even different types of sweets.

6 Tofu

Many stories have suggested why and how tofu was invented, but here is one of the most original. According to legend, an ancient Chinese cook accidentally dropped a piece of nigari into a pot of soybean milk. A curdling effect was created, which made tofu.

The chef served the new, unidentified substance to his customers, and surprisingly, they loved the new food. The cook continued to serve the dish, making many customers very happy.

To this day, people eat tofu as a replacement for meat or just as a healthy vegetarian option. The great thing about it is that it tastes like whatever it is cooked in. Tofu is featured in many Asian dishes.^[5]

5 Potato Chips

In 1853, George Crum worked at Moon’s Lake House near Saratoga Springs. He was a chef and wanted to fulfill his customers’ orders without any flaws. One day, a loyal customer ordered a batch of fried potatoes but did not enjoy their thickness. So he sent them back to the kitchen to be remade—but thinner.

His request was taken seriously, and the cook fulfilled his second order. Unfortunately, the second batch was not to the customer’s standards. This happened one or two times, each batch not being thin enough for the customer’s liking.

Tired of the complaints, George took a potato and sliced it as thin as he possibly could, knowing that this had to be the order that the customer would like to eat. George fried and salted the potato slices, trying his hardest to make them as delicious as possible.

He brought them out to the customer and hoped that this batch would be satisfactory. The customer loved them, and this new food was named the potato chip.^[6]

4 Corn Flakes

In the 19th century, William and John Kellogg invented corn flakes. These two brothers worked at Battle Creek Sanitarium, where vegetarianism and knowing how to be healthy were very important.

One day, the Kelloggs were looking for a substitute for bread. First, they boiled wheat. Unfortunately (but fortunately for us), they boiled the wheat too long. When they rolled it out, it fell into many flakes. Lastly, they baked it—and poof! Out came the bread flakes!

Many people thought that this was delicious, but the Kelloggs knew that they could make it better. The brothers substituted corn for wheat, and corn flakes were born.^[7]

3 Slurpees

In the late 1950s, Omar Knedlik invented the treat we all know and love—Slurpees. You may have had this delicious drink as a refreshment at the movie theater or as a yummy dessert. But did you know the story behind the invention of the Slurpee?

Knedlik owned a Dairy Queen franchise. Compared to today, the shop’s machines were not quite as reliable. One day, the soda fountain wasn’t working so Knedlik stuck bottles of soda in the freezer. He kept them in a bit long, and the liquid became slushy and solid. He served the concoction to his customers, and surprisingly, they loved it.^[8]

Knedlik continued to receive requests for this slushy soda, and he proceeded to call it a Slurpee!

2 Dippin’ Dots

In 1988, microbiologist Curt Jones invented our favorite sweet snack, Dippin’ Dots. Jones was trying to figure out how to feed cows faster and easier while using fewer materials. He froze a batch of cow feed at around -212 degrees Celsius (-350 °F), and the resulting pellets could easily be fed to the waiting cows.

Jones discovered that this same method could be used with human food. He tested it with ice cream and created Dippin’ Dots, the fun summer treat that we all love.^[9]

1 Coca-Cola

In 1886, John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola. He was a wounded veteran who was addicted to morphine. Pemberton wanted to create a replacement for the morphine to alleviate his addiction. He experimented many times until he devised a formula with small amounts of cocaine and kola nut.

To this day, Coca-Cola is a well-known soda brand that is sold throughout the US.^[10] You can get this drink at the movie theater, at a festival, at the store to take home with you, or anywhere else you can possibly think of!

I am a young adult, and I love to write about anything and everything! I enjoy making lists as well, so this combines my two hobbies into one!

Although a decent chef can work wonders with any set of culinary tools, having the right ones can definitely help. A set of cookware, cutting boards, and knives are just some of the practical items you’ll see in every kitchen.

But what about the goofy kitchen gadget you impulse bought and only used once? Maybe the gadget only has one specific purpose, or you only use it during the holidays. Either way, at the end of the day, you can easily call these kitchen gadgets unnecessary.

Before you venture out to purchase yet another pair of onion goggles, let’s explore the top ten kitchen gadgets that never should have been invented. Hopefully, this list can save you some money and drawer space in your kitchen. 

10 Pickle Fork

Everybody wants to avoid smelly pickle juice, right? Or maybe you hate sharing a communal pickle jar at company picnics, and you don’t want to stick your fingers into a jar that other people will be grabbing from. While most people would grab a regular fork to jab into a pickle, many people choose to spend $5-$10 on a pickle fork. 

While some may find a pickle fork amusing, others will find the tool practical. In our case, avoid spending your money and use a regular ole’ fork to spear your pickle out of the jar. Avoid your “needed” pickle fork being stuffed into a junk drawer, collecting dust. 

9 PB&J Spreader

PB&J’s, also known as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, is a lunchtime favorite for many. But apparently, enough people seemed to have complained about the assembly process to have an actual PB&J Spreader invented. Many PB&J Spreaders promote sturdy handles, long blades, and features that scrape every last bit of peanut butter out of a jar. 

Instead of purchasing a PB&J Spreader, grab your trusty kitchen knife to do the same work and save your money! Better yet, to scrape all the peanut butter out of the jar, reach for a kitchen spatula. While you may need to use two kitchen tools to complete the task, you will save money and drawer space by avoiding a PB&J spreader’s purchase.

8 Banana Slicer

The banana slicer is another kitchen gadget that just doesn’t make sense. Who wants to spend money on this tool when they have a butter knife available right in their kitchen? It makes economic sense to save money and use what you have. The only benefit we can assign to the banana slicer is the equal uniform cuts it makes. A special dessert or dish may call for these equal slices. 

Despite the one benefit of a banana slicer, most banana slicers only allow you to slice small portions of the banana at one time. In the time it will take you to peel the banana and begin cutting bit by bit, you could have cut the whole banana using a knife and cutting board. 

7 Egg Slicer

Let’s add another cutting tool to our list. The egg slicer seems convenient when you’ll need sliced eggs to toss in a cobb salad, but once again, use a knife you already have. When eating eggs, a person will bite into a hard-boiled egg or cut it in half—there is very little need, if any, for a kitchen gadget specifically geared towards cutting a soft egg.

The egg slicer is another gadget that can create equal shaped cuts with food. While many at-home chefs boast that the egg slicer can cut more than just soft eggs, we don’t see the need when you have knives readily available. And with practice, you can cut food equal in size and shape.

6 Hands-Free Bag Holder

This kitchen gadget will cost you more than $20. The bag holder keeps your plastic bags open and in place while you fill them. Many people who meal prep or make freezer meals find the hands-free bag holder ideal when working in large batches. But we think you should save your money and buy more plastic bags for your snacks.

Hands-free bag holders had to make the list for kitchen gadgets that never should have been invented. Many sandwich bags are made with flat bottoms, so you can set the bag on the counter while filling it with food. If you are worried about making a mess, open the bag and roll the top over itself, creating a cleaner fill. Holding the bag with one hand while filling it is easy, and guess what—free!

5 Bear Paw Meat Shredder

Don’t spend a lot of money on a set of Bear Paw Meat Shredders when you have perfectly good forks sitting in your utensil drawer. You’ll only need two forks to dig into your cooked meat. Using the forks, pull the meat apart in different directions. If your meat is soft enough, the forks will easily shred the meat. 

Many BBQ cookers will use meat shredders due to their durability and ease of use when shredding large quantities of meat. Despite the love from BBQ cookers, meat shredders will only take up precious kitchen drawer space. While they look appealing and easy to use, their function can be completed with items you already have. 

4 Butter Dispenser

Butter dispensers are not a practical gadget, no matter how you slice it.

Working as a large syringe, the butter is pushed out onto your desired food. You will have to take the butter out of its original packaging to use the product. Spreading butter on your food is easy with a knife or even a spatula if you are baking and using large quantities of butter. 

Many chefs find that washing the butter dispenser is the biggest downfall of this time-wasting kitchen gadget. The syringe gets discarded or shoved to the back of your kitchen cabinet. Save yourself the cleaning hassle and just spread your butter with a knife from its container or use your trusty butter dish. 

3 Egg and Bread Toaster

If you need to save on kitchen counter space, this device is not going to help you. This Egg and Bread Toaster is larger than your average toaster. You’ll also need to part with a cool $50 to purchase one. The toaster has large wide slots that will toast your pieces of bread. At the same time, the end of the gadget has a spot to cook an egg simultaneously. 

While the gadget does cook two things at once, users report inconsistencies in cooking temperatures. Also, if you have a big family, you will be spending all morning standing at the egg and bread toaster since it can only cook one egg at a time, which isn’t ideal on busy mornings. 

Use a conventional toaster and stovetop instead to cook your morning breakfast. You’ll have more control over your food’s temperature, and you will save counter space by avoiding another bulky appliance. 

2 Tuna Squish

The Tuna Squish gadget helps to remove water from canned tuna. And for $20 per gadget, it feels like a rip-off. If you’ve experience opening up a can of tuna, you know how to remove the excess water. You only need to press down on the tuna using the lid, then remove the cover and throw it away. It’s not rocket science. 

While many users swear by the device to avoid smelling like tuna from touching the water, we can’t get behind a product with no other use, except for maybe opening a can of cat food. 

1 Jenaluca Herb Scissors

The Jenaluca Herb Scissors function like a regular pair of scissors but with specialized functions. These scissors easily cut herbs using five blades or more, depending on the brand of herb scissors you purchase. The multi-blades allow for precise small cuts of herbs at a fast pace.

Regular kitchen scissors can also cut herbs; they only have the two blades that accomplish the same task. You’ll find the herb scissors to be a waste of kitchen space and money. $15 is a lot with only the guarantee to save tiny bits of time slicing herbs. The scissors are bulkier than regular kitchen scissors due to the multiple blades. If you purchase these, they’ll take up more space in your kitchen than a standard pair of kitchen scissors and only serve one purpose. 

“Accident is the name of greatest of all inventors”. The words are said by an American author – Mark Twain. It is true that many of the life changing invention in the history of world are originated by accident.

The great inventions like x-ray machine, safety glass, matches, microwave oven etc., are the result of accidental and unintentional series of activities. But do you know that there are food items that are most commonly consumed by people and are result of accidental invention. So let us learn about 10 food items that were invented accidentally.

10. Chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chips cookies are loved, not only by children but also youngsters and adults. The chocolate chip cookie was actually accidentally invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield in 1930. The invention happened when Ruth decided to prepare a batch of Chocolate Butter Drop Do cookies, but after realising that she is out of baker’s chocolate she instead added broken pieces of Nestlé chocolate bar, and there our ever loved chocolate chip cookie was invented.

9. Potato Chips

Potato chips were invented by Chef George Crum in 1853. As the story goes, chef Crum invented potato chips accidently when a customer at Saratoga springs’ Moon Lake House was complaining that the fried potatoes were not thin enough even after slicing it thin repeatedly. Then he decided to slice the last batch of potatoes as thinly as possible, fried them and then added salt to them and sent them to customer. The customer loved them and we had our first ever potato chips invented.

8. Popsicles

Immensely popular among children this ice pop is actually invented by an 11 year old kid named Frank Epperson in 1905. One summer day Epperson left his mixed soda and water with a stick into it and then forgot the drink resulting it to remain outside in the cold night. The next morning when he got out, Epperson found his drink frozen inside the glass with wooden stick into it. He named his discovery “Epsicle” but later he changed it to “popsicle”.

7. Beer

The enormously consumed beverage “beer” is said to be discovered by Mesopotamians about 10000 years ago. The invention happened while they were trying to store grains for their bread, but because of the dampness of their storage spaces it caused their grain fermentation. some Mesopotamians were brave enough to taste the drink and “beer” was invented.

6. Ice cream cones

The ice cream cone was invented in 1904 at Louis world’s Fair by Ernest A. Hamwi. Ice-cream cone was discovered when an ice cream vendor at the fair ran out of the bowl to serve ice cream in. After seeing this vendor next to him who was selling waffles, came with the idea of spinning the waffle into cone like shape for the ice cream. The idea of serving ice cream into cone like waffle seem compelling to customer and we can see how ice cream cone has made its way to our heart.

5. Coca cola

John Stith Pemberton, an American pharmacist invented coca-cola in the year 1886 at Atlanta. During the Battle of Columbus, Pemberton became injured which led him to get addicted to morphine. To cure his addiction Pemberton researched and experimented on painkillers that would serve as drug free alternative for his addiction. Eventually after several experiments he created syrup from coca leaves and coca wines. He named the syrup as Pemberton’s French wine coca, but later on, in 1886, due to the ban of alcohol, a non alcoholic version of wine was introduced, naming it, popularly known COCA-COLA.

4. Worcestershire sauce

The accidental invention of Worcestershire sauce took place at the town of Worchester, England in 1835. Upon returning to England, Lord Marcus Sandy, the former governor of Bengal, India found himself craving for his favourite Indian sauce and appointed drug store owners John Lea and William Perrins to recreate it, but because of the strong odour of the sauce from vegetable and fish mixture they decided to store it into basement and forgot for two whole years. The aging period changed the flavour of sauce and it became instant hit with customers.

3. Cheese Puffs/curls

The story of invention of cheese puffs is very unusual and weird one. The accidental invention of cheese curls happened by an animal food manufacturer Flakall Company of Beloit, Wisconsin in 1935. The staff there fed moist corn into the grinder in order to reduce the clogging in the machine. Edward Wilson, an employee at the corporation noticed that the moist cornmeal came out in puffy ribbons, and decided to take it home and added some seasoning to make the first cheese puffs.

2. Nachos

During World War II an accidental cuisine was invented, which is diversely enjoyed globally today. Ignacio Anaya, who was a maître ď at a restaurant called the Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Mexico, near Fort Duncan got to host a group of hungry U.S soldier wives. Anaya decided to cover a plate of Totopos with grated cheese and sliced jalapeños, and presented as an appetizer. The cuisine was named “Nachos” after Anaya’s nickname nacho.

1. Kellogg’s cereal

The most commonly consumed breakfast item corn flakes is actually an accidental discovery. In 19th century John Harvey Kellogg along with his brother Will Keith Kellogg attempted to make a food item to stop masturbation, but accidentally left the wheat to dry out and flaked it once dry to produce wheat flakes. After the discovery, in 1906, Will Keith Kellogg decided to experiment by switching from wheat to corn and marketed it alone to invent ever green breakfast option corn flakes.

So these were top 10 food items that were accidentally invented, but the list does not stop here, there are many more food items and other things that are result of accidents that changed the world.

The most recent addition to the big world religions (more than 25 million followers) was Sikhism 500 years ago. But, social media notwithstanding, it takes time to get so many followers — and the age of the prophets never really ended. The 19th century saw a flurry of smaller new religions, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and Baha’i. And the 20th gave us Scientology.

Even today we’re inventing new religions that, in centuries’ time, may outsize Christianity or Islam. They’re all a bit silly, but what religion isn’t? What matters is that people take them seriously — and these 10 they certainly do.

10. Matrixism

A religion based on the movie, Matrixism arose four years after The Matrix — in 2003, the same year its sequels came out. While adherents, known as Redpills or Pathists, don’t believe we’re literally inside a simulation, they do take other cues from the movies. These include a belief in the prophecy of The One (due to return some time before 2199), and the recognition that reality is subjective. 

It’s not a dogmatic religion, though; it’s more of a spiritual path. The freedom of the individual is paramount. For example, Pathists value psychedelics as tools for exploration and, while there is a recommended reading list (including the scriptures of world religions and Huxley’s The Doors of Perception), individuals are free to interpret.

Two days are holy in Matrixism: April 19 (“Bicycle Day” or the day LSD discoverer Albert Hoffman first tried the psychedelic himself) and November 22 (the date Aldous Huxley, C.S. Lewis, and JFK all died in 1963). The symbol for Matrixism as a religion is the Japanese hanji for ‘red’ — ? — a reference to the liberating pill.

9. The Church of All Worlds

The mission of the Church of All Worlds (CAW) is to reawaken Gaia and reunite Her children. Incorporated in 1968 by Oberon Zell, it was the first pagan church founded in the US and was officially recognized by the IRS in 1970. This is despite its basis in the work of science fiction writer Robert Heinlein, and in particular his 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land. It was the concept of a “Nest,” a group of people seeking to know each other deeply, that inspired Zell to found the CAW. In fact, congregations within the Church are themselves referred to as Nests.

Drawing on the ancient Greek Mysteries of Eleusis, the pagan May Royalty, and Zell’s own vision of Gaia as alive, the CAW embraces diverse beliefs and practices. More important is the shared set of values, which includes friendship and “tribal intimacy,” “positive sexuality,” and harmony with nature. That said, there is one rite that underpins the faith. Known as Watersharing, it symbolizes sacred bonds and our place in the web of life.

At heart, it’s a hippy religion. Its Mecca, so to speak, where important rites are held, is a sprawling woodland in Northern California called Annwfn (the Otherworld in Welsh mythology).

8. The Elven Spiritual Path

The Elven Spiritual Path draws on Tolkien’s Legendarium (his works set in Middle Earth) and in particular the cosmology of the elves. Its full name is Tië eldaliéva (abbreviated as T-e), which is Elven for “Path of the Star People.” 

This isn’t live action role-playing. Followers of the path are genuinely devoted to enlightenment on elvish terms. It’s also a recognized religion, complete with tax-exempt status. Even so, the church (called Yána eldaliéva, the “Sanctuary of the Star People”) meets mostly online with two different websites. They do have their own calendar, though.

To help visitors understand the religion, the FAQs evoke the image of a tuning fork. Vibrating at the frequency of a guitar string, it causes the string to vibrate. And this “sympathetic vibration makes sympathetic resonance possible.” What this means for the Star People in practice is that meditating aligns one with the vibration of higher consciousness, opening one to resonance with one’s full nature.

7. Satanism

Founded by Anton LaVey in the 1960s, Satanism is surprisingly atheistic. Neither LaVey nor his followers claim Satan exists. As LaVey put it himself, it’s more of a “state of being … a lifestyle, an outlook, an attitude.” In fact, Satanism isn’t even diabolical. It’s more of an “exultation of self,” offering non-religious people a way to feel religious. A large part of its appeal, therefore, lies in its rituals.

Of course, Satan features heavily in these ceremoneis — as do his cross-cultural equivalents. A list of “Infernal Names” is provided in LaVey’s Satanic Bible, and detailed instructions are given in The Satanic Rituals. Satanism being individualist, however, rituals may be freely adapted.

Unsurprisingly, this individualist religion is still very much thriving today. Although (like all good religions) a rift splintered LaVey’s Church of Satan into various sects, the original is still in operation. Meanwhile, LaVey’s daughter Karla founded the Satanic Breakfast Club, which became the First Satanic Church. And there’s also the Satanic Temple — which the Church of Satan denounces as un-Satanic (and which describes the Church of Satan as “inactive”) — and the Global Order of Satan, an “independent nontheistic rationalist Satanist religious ministry” founded in 2016.

6. Ed Woodism

The official website of the Church of Ed Wood greets every new visitor with a pop-up: “To answer your first question – yes, we’re serious!” You wouldn’t have thought so — despite its 3,000 followers. Founded in 1996 by Reverend Steve Galindo, Ed Woodism sees the pulp science fiction writer/director (whose credits include the laughable Plan 9 from Outer Space) as a Christ-like savior of sorts.

In a world of “easily offended, self-righteous, puritanical people,” adherents look to Wood as a beacon of understanding and acceptance — even of things rejected by society. According to the website, Wood’s example informs frank discussions of “sex, race, drugs, and transvestitism.”

Ed Wood isn’t God, though. For Ed Woodists, God is a movie producer: he “built the sets, got the casting ready, and financed our great, big movie masterpiece.” He just wants us to make a good movie, but he’s not the director. “We are the director of our lives.”

5. Raelism

Founded in the 1970s, Raëlism (the International Raëlian Movement or the Raëlian Church) says humans were created not by gods but extraterrestrial aliens — the so-called Elohim, which happens to be Hebrew for ‘gods’. Although atheistic, Raëlians (or Raëlists) revere the prophets of theistic religions — e.g. Jesus, Mohammad, Joseph Smith — as well as the Buddha and 35 others as Elohim/human hybrids. The fortieth and final prophet is Raël himself (Claude Vorilhon), the Frenchman who came up with the faith.

According to Raëlians, this is the Age of Apocalypse — which begun with the bombing of Hiroshima. The only way we’ll ever meet our makers is if we learn to wield technology for good. The Elohim won’t return until we do. The job of the Raëlian Church, therefore, is to spread this message and prepare for their arrival — which means building a Raëlian embassy. 

Sexual experimentation and meditation are both encouraged — as is human cloning to realise our destiny as immortals. In 2002 the Church actually claimed to have cloned a human — a baby girl they called Eve. 

4. Cosmicism

Cosmicism rejects theism for a nihilistic outlook and “a fear of the cosmic Void” — based on the writings of Lovecraft. It’s also known as the Cult of Cthulhu, the oldest of Lovecraft’s malignant Great Old Ones, or dormant primordial gods. 

While not all cultists think Cthulhu exists (as anything more than a metaphor), they all believe they’ve been called. The Call of Cthulhu is a personal thing that can manifest through dreams, synchronicities, or simply one’s fate or desire. But it sets one apart from the masses. According to the religion’s website, “only a select few are even worthy of The Cult and its teachings.”

Another key doctrine is Ascension — the belief that within every called cultist there’s an Elder God (benevolent ancient deity) seeking transcendence. And, as Lovecraft was a science fiction writer, it should come as no surprise that Cosmicism is a science religion drawing on multiverse theory and quantum decoherence.

3. The Church of Maradona

To say the Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona has a loyal fanbase would be an understatement. What he has are religious devotees. For all his flaws — drug addiction, involvement with the mafia, etc. — he’s revered as a saint. There’s even a physical church dedicated to his worship in the city of Rosario, Argentina. Congregants gather to share stories about Maradona’s effect in their own lives, as well as to celebrate his birthday (October 30) like Christmas.

In fact, Maradona’s association with the divine goes back further than the founding of the Church in 1998. Just four years after they lost the Falklands War, Argentina was again doing battle with Britain — this time for the 1986 World Cup. They had to win. And it was Maradona who scored the decisive goals, one of which earned him the name the “Hand of God.” He was also hailed as a saint — Saint Gennaro’s second-coming — in Naples for drawing attention to the city’s impoverishment after joining its football team.

Despite Maradona’s reluctance to be seen in this way, the Church of Maradona has half a million devotees across several countries. Its entrance is flanked by soccer balls in vases and covered in photos of the man. It even has its own version of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Diego, who art in Earth / Hallowed be thy left leg / Thy magic come, / Thy goals are remembered, / On Earth, as they are in Heaven.”

2. The Prince Philip Cargo Cult

It’s not known why modernity-rejecting villagers on the Vanuatuan island of Tanna came to worship the Queen of England’s consort Prince Philip. But somehow they came to believe he was the pale-skinned son of a mountain spirit. According to ancient prophecies, he’s supposed to have traveled to a distant land to marry a powerful woman before one day returning to Tanna. They also believe he was the brother of the original cargo cult figurehead John Frum, who entered their pantheon in the Second World War.

Although Philip visited Vanuatu in 1974, he wasn’t aware of his status. But when he was told, he unsurprisingly embraced it — exchanging photos and gifts with the villagers. He sent them an official photograph, and they sent him a pig-bludgeoner. He responded by sending them a photo of himself holding it. In 2007, five of the villagers were invited to Britain to meet him.

But he never returned to the island.

1. The Creativity Movement

Not to be confused with Creationism, the Creativity Movement doesn’t care about dinosaur bones and evolution. All it preaches is the advancement of white people and the inferiority of “coloured mongrels.” It started in 1973 with Ukrainian Ben Klassen, who wrote about his hatred of Jews and non-whites. 

After his suicide 20 years later, student Matthew Hale took over. His aim was to take control of the government to forcibly deport all “inferior races” to Madagasdcar. But they wouldn’t stop there; under his leadership the Creativity Movement seeks to incite a “racial holy war” similar to China’s Cultural Revolution, in which any “non-white” elements of culture are annihilated. That would include rap music, which Creativity describes as “gruesome.”

Although it seems like just another bunch of racists, the movement sees itself as a religion. They don’t believe in God, but they do see whites as “nature’s highest creation.” Active in many of the most politically white countries — the US, Russia, Australia, France, Germany, Canada, Austria, Poland, and Switzerland — the movement even has its own White Man’s Bible. It also has more than 30 associated web sites, along with mailing lists, forums, and chat rooms.