In Photos: The Power of Poison Through Time

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Detecting Poisons theater

poison through history, detecting poisons theater

(Image credit: AMNH/D. Finnin.)

In the late 19th century, scientists began to catch up to resourceful poisoners and began applying new knowledge to helping solve criminal cases. Visitors will hear about a real-world case from the 1830s, and about the scientific methods newly available to criminal investigators, from a live presenter in the exhibition’s Detecting Poisons theater.

iPad game

poison through history, iPad games

(Image credit: AMNH/D. Finnin.)

Visitors play detective by finding clues about various toxins and poisonous creatures and reviewing victims’ symptoms to help solve three puzzling cases of accidental poisonings. These include the mysterious illness of Captain James Cook and two naturalists aboard Cook’s ship, Resolution, in 1774. Was it the lead paint used to repaint the ship, something they ate, or arsenic in a taxidermy kit that caused such odd symptoms among the three men? Visitors will be able to bring the fun home by downloading the game as a free app for iPad.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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