Science has undoubtedly brought progress to humanity, but that doesn't mean it hasn't also taken some wrong turns. From outrageous discoveries, strokes of genius, and failures to disasters caused by men and women, both with and without lab coats, this book sheds light on the worst disasters in the history of science. Failed experiments, technical flops, exploding setups, institutes in a state of alarm, nonsensical studies, smoking laboratories, worthless patents, and utterly unnecessary inventions—from the corner gun to the battery-operated rubber breast—come together in a cheerful gathering here.