A distinctly non-naturally-occurring material that was created during the Trinity nuclear bomb test in New Mexico, trinitite is basically just glass, made when the heat from the blast melted the surrounding sand. That said, it’s extremely rare glass, since it’s now illegal to remove any more material from the Trinity site.

Give your Wunderkammer an element of danger with this sample of uranium ore. The material included in this metal tin is safe to handle if you use common sense (don’t lick it), but is also certified to be measurably radioactive.

Our modern life is saturated with marvelous machines, so how about a distinctly non-marvelous one: the Useless Box, which automatically turns itself off every time you turn it on.

Building a curiosity cabinet? Why not start with the tooth of an actual monster? The Megalodon was a super-sized prehistoric shark the size of a luxury yacht. This almost  four-inch tooth is a great reminder of the vast variety of nature, and how much of it you wouldn’t want to...

The Stirling engine was invented in 1816 and was meant to rival the steam engine. Nearly 200 years later, it still hasn’t quite made it to ubiquity, but works just fine. This one will get going on just a cup of water, either hot or iced. 

Tuck these tiny wind-up butterflies into an old book or a birthday card and watch the recipient's surprise as they suddenly fly away.

Larissa Hayden Deputy Director of Events