37. Vaseline May Have Been Figured Out By Native Americans
Back in the day, oil rig workers used something called “rod wax” to treat their cuts and burns, and Robert Chesebrough saw an opportunity in this. He refined this mysterious black goop into the clear ointment we now know as petroleum jelly, or Vaseline. Chesebrough even went so far as to perform live demonstrations, intentionally injuring himself and then applying petroleum jelly to showcase its healing prowess.
Evidence shows that Native Americans had been onto this wonder substance’s protective and moisturizing qualities long before Chesebrough patented his process. It’s a testament that in the world of discovery and invention, sometimes credit goes to those who arrive first, not those who originate the idea.