In 1846, a chemist wiped up spilled acids with an apron and found a dangerous new cotton

A German-Swiss scientist, Christian Friedrich Schönbein, stumbled upon a powerful new substance in 1846. An accidental spill of strong acid onto his cotton apron led to its rapid ignition. This event revealed nitrocellulose, a material with explosive potential. This discovery marked a significant step in the evolution of energetic materials, transforming a common item into something extraordinary and useful.