Fascinating Fails

A grisly medieval plague of holy fire. An experiment gone wrong. And…the CIA? All of these unlikely elements weave together in the story of the accidental discovery that brought us LSD. Plus, why scientists today are studying how psychedelics could be used to treat mental illnesses like depression, addiction, OCD, and more.

Whoever said baking is a science definitely knew what they were talking about. In this episode of Fascinating Fails, we explore how a kitchen tip changed science forever. This breakthrough has become a staple in science, but actually owes its accidental beginnings to ancient cooking traditions. Plus…a trip to a seaweed farm?!

From pollen to peanuts, allergies can be the bane of our existence. Hold on tight for this wild ride of an episode that takes us through time. By the end, you'll see how Paris, sea anemone toxin, Prince Albert I of Monaco, and eczema are all linked to allergies...and what we can do about preventing and treating them in the future.

Say hello to the Cane Toad: the epitome of failing upward. Join the Fascinating Fails team as we explore how we may need to rethink our idea of what an ‘invasive species’ is, and find out ways YOU can help fight the climate crisis—it’s as simple as taking a picture!

How did a moldy melon from Peoria, Illinois save more than half a billion lives? And what does it have to do with using killer viruses to make people better when they’re sick? It’s all down to one notorious lab accident that most people would have just thrown in the trash. Curiosity in the face of failure is what gave us modern antibiotics…and the viruses that just might save us from superbugs.

The sound that gave us the answer to one of the universe's biggest mysteries was discovered...completely by accident. This noise let science move on to explore what the heck our universe is doing today, and spoiler alert: we only understand what a measly 5% of our universe is made of.

Before general anesthesia, surgery was a gruesome affair. The only reason we now have the pain relief we do is because of...parties. Maren Hunsberger follows the story of anesthetic gasses from the Old Operating Theatre in London through to today's science of modern anesthesia.

One of the most colorful accidents in history, malaria, and...genetically engineered bacteria?! These are all part of the story behind the color purple. Maren Hunsberger travels through time in London to follow the thread of purple's story from ancient plants to the industrial revolution, and all the way to a lab growing microbes that could just save the world's water.