The Bug That Started It All
Ever wondered where the term “computer bug” came from? Turns out, it began with real wings.
Image source: National Museum of American History
In 1947, engineers working on the Harvard Mark II computer discovered that one of the machine’s circuits wasn’t functioning properly. When they opened it up, they found the culprit—a moth trapped inside a relay. The insect had shorted the system, literally “bugging” the computer.
The team, which included pioneering computer scientist Grace Hopper, carefully taped the moth into the logbook and noted the find as “First actual case of bug being found.” The phrase “debugging” soon caught on and became a staple of computing language worldwide.
That tiny moth now rests in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, preserved as a quirky but historic symbol of technology’s early days.
Learn more about the origin of the first computer “bug.”Heard another story where a small accident changed history? Post it in the forum—we’d love to read it!
