SCIENCE AND SERENDIPITY

There is no quarrel with the idea that chance plays a role in scientific discoveries, but to devote a whole book to the topic Would seem to negate other factors equally precipitate even in those discoveries where chance held major importance. It was Louis Pasteur who once declared that accidents happen only to the prepared mind. Halacy identifies eleven areas of science in which serendipity has had considerable influence, but the objection remains--his lip service to other contributing factors does nothing to counter the impression that scientific advances are pretty much accidental. This is an unfortunate message for the young reader, and overbalances the interest of the accounts themselves.