That’s a sad but enlightening story. It’s too bad that this happened, we could have benefited from this invention on a global level.
A few years ago I came up with a quote that this story reminds me of:
“There is no greater sadness in death than that of one who passes, without having shared their knowledge with the world left behind”
I believe we all have a story to tell, or even a single experience to share that will resonate with someone out there. And it is such a waste when these are lost by taking them to the grave.
It is possible someone has their hands on the formula somewhere. Before he died, he said that his family knew the formula, but no-one came forward, the conspiracy theory on this is that the government bought the formula after all and swore the family to secrecy.
That’s always possible. Perhaps many inventions like these will see the light of day one day. Humanity’s interest is not always in the best interest some people in the world.