What happens? Why, huge
scientific breakthroughs, of course!
Example: a guy was working on advanced ceramics, and he accidently spilled his beer in the powdered ceramic. The bubbles worked with the ceramic to create a lightweight ceramic brick called beerite.
Example 2: Alexander Graham Bell spills a nasty chemical on himself and calls out for Watson, who hears it on the newly-invented phone.
It seems that half of the discoveries are from scientists doing hard theoretical work, and the other half happen because of dumb luck or accidents.