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Miraculous Malfunction: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
In [[Mad Scientist|mad science]], "malfunction" does not mean fried circuits and [[Going Critical|broken equipment]]. Well okay - [[Phlebotinum Breakdown|that too]]. But quite often it turns out that a malfunction has created something wondrous (rather than just,
This can be used as an [[Achievements in Ignorance|Achievement In Ignorance]] for the [[Bungling Inventor]] (most of whose works are created in this manner). It can also serve as an alternative explanation to why there are [[No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup]]: it's not that the technology was lost but rather, the individual sample was a result of a one-time event that cannot be recreated. Particularly good researchers might then learn to ''reverse'' engineer this piece to create more, but usually they will be just as dumbfounded about how it works as everyone else even if they themselves have created it. Surpringly such technology will usually be surprisingly stable and not at all prone to [[Phlebotinum Breakdown]], unless the plot suddenly calls for it [[Going Critical]]. Note, however, that because of the poorly understood nature of such technology it ''can'' unexpectedly become dangerous.
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(While there are real-world examples of inventors accidentally stumbling upon new things while researching something else, the fictional inventor will never need to bother with follow-up research: they will get the new tech from it ready-made.)
Sister trope to [[Freak Lab Accident]] which [[Superhero|gives people powers]] rather than creating and changing technological pieces. See also [[Instant AI, Just Add Water]]. Lightning is often a cause of [[Miraculous Malfunction]]s because, as we all know, [[Lightning Can Do Anything]].
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* In ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' the tachikomas {{spoiler|become sapient due to an imperfection on one of their circuit boards caused by Bateau giving his "personal" takioma natural oil which corroded part of it. This tachikoma induced sapience in the others when their AI's were synchronized.}} They did try that with the fujikomas, yet that did not work. They never quite figured the reason out.
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