Welcome to AirNManky's Cabinet of Curiosity's, a production of I Heart Radio and Grimm

and Mild.

Our world is full of the unexplainable.

And if history is an open book, all of these amazing tales are right there on display,

just waiting for us to explore.

Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosity's.

When it comes to advancements in science, education is key.

Each generation learns from those who came before them, studying their experiments and

findings, students then apply what they've learned to keep things moving forward.

Often, children get their first taste of scientific exploration at home.

They might receive a microscope for Christmas or a chemistry set on their birthday, mixing

baking soda and vinegar to produce volcanic explosions in their kitchens.

But one scientist's discovery led to a new kind of educational toy, one that was far

more dangerous than anyone realized.

His name was William Crooks, born in England in 1832.

William came from a big family, the oldest of eight surviving siblings out of a total of

16.

Though his father and grandfather had been tailors, William set out on his own path.

He enrolled at the Royal College of Chemistry when he was just 16, paying his own way while

living at home.

He was also responsible for buying his own materials, including the chemicals used in his academic

experiments.

...