Does a list with short descriptions of discoveries like these exist? Could be a fun read

Edit: apparently yes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_discoveries_influenced...

I remember reading how some scientist or inventor had alloyed iron/steel with various other metals and found a lot of samples rusted, but one with chromium was very shiny and didn't rust.

Also the original "point contact transistor" was pretty crude and impractical.