Curiosity Box is a subscription box from VSauce - a popular YouTube channel featuring topics such as science, philosophy, technology, gaming, and culture. As of 2022, they have joined forces with MEL Science, maximizing their impact on brain health. This limited-edition box ships quarterly, and once it sells out, you can't get it again.
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First Impressions
I am a complete science nerd. With a degree in medical technology, I sought out all of the science classes I could as a student and enjoy helping out in those classes as an ISA at my school! Because I have such a passion for science, I am always on the lookout for ways to incorporate it into my daily life (along with my boys' lives). So when I stumbled upon Curiosity Box I just had to see what it was all about! Awesome for adults, a typical box includes premium science toys, experiments, and collectibles. What did I think about this fall curation? Read below to see!
What's Inside The Box
Up first, we received a postcard with all of this month's contents presented. Utilizing real life photos of each item, it includes a short descriptive blurb and fun phrasing.
Also included was a booklet containing in-depth info on each of the included items. With short bursts of information followed by scientific explanations, this guide is packed with really good stuff!
Rutherford Gold Shirt
The first item we received was this great T-shirt. This box’s shirt is called the “Rutherford Gold Shirt,” and it combines science with style! Made from 100% cotton, the black shirt is thick, well-made, and has a nice amount of stretch.
Featuring a fun metallic gold design, the front of the shirt showcases an illustration of the famous gold foil scattering experiments performed by Rutherford, Geiger, and Marsden. These experiments demonstrated that atoms are mostly empty space, with a dense nucleus at the center, and helped lead to the famous Rutherford model of the atom.
While I love science, I didn’t know this information before receiving the shirt, so I was happy to learn something new! It’s a cool shirt and comfortable to wear, so I added it to my weekly school wardrobe. Even my chemistry teacher complimented me on it!
Ruler of the Universe
The next item I received was a really unique one! This time, I received a Curiosity Box invention: a fancy cylindrical ruler! Not only does it measure in typical units, but it also includes unusual units like barleycorns, suns, and even hydrogen lines, if you want to get really creative! There’s even space for you to add your own measurements.
Featuring a well-made slider, you simply line up your object and measure! Interesting and fun to use, I’ve brought this ruler to a couple of math classes to show it off, and both the teachers and students were impressed. They loved trying out the different measurements and thought it was really cool to measure their fidgets and compare their sizes in inches as well as barleycorns! Science is so cool!
Thoughts on Art and Life Book
The next item I received was a beautiful yellow cloth-covered book titled Thoughts on Art and Life by Leonardo da Vinci. Right away, I loved the bright yellow cover, which gives the book a classic and artistic look. Inside, the book features Leonardo’s thoughts and ideas along with some of his fascinating sketches. I really enjoyed being able to see his artwork while also learning more about the way he thought about art, science, and life. The sketches make the book feel especially unique and give you a glimpse into Leonardo’s creative process. It’s the kind of book that is fun to flip through, whether you want to read his ideas or simply admire the artwork. I’m excited to keep this on my bookshelf and come back to it whenever I want a little inspiration!
Leonardo Stickers
Coordinating with the book, we also received a set of stickers featuring Leonardo da Vinci’s artwork. I’ll be honest: they are neat, but they’re definitely not something I’d put on my computer or water bottle! We received several of his grotesque sketches, as well as an image of the Vitruvian Man. While these are certainly interesting pieces of art, they aren’t quite my style when it comes to stickers. I may pass these along to somebody who is a bigger Leonardo da Vinci fan than I am, where I think they’ll be appreciated even more.
Snowflake Matching Game
Here is an item that is a little more my style! I live in Minnesota, and snowflakes are all the rage up here! With fall officially here, the snow will be flying soon, and this snowflake matching game will be a great way to welcome it. Featuring 21 pairs of snowflake pictures, these hexagon-shaped cardboard pieces are well-made, cute, and feature some of the most fun snowflake designs! This game is harder than it looks, and I’ve put it in my room for lunch group, where the kids love playing it!
Inq's Crystal Hexagram Puzzle
The last item I received this month was my absolute favorite! This Hexagram puzzle is so neat. It comes in its own case, features a fun star shape, and the pieces look like beautiful little jewels! It also comes with a book featuring puzzles that start out easy and progressively get harder. I’ll be honest, I had a hard time with the easy version, so I’m not going to be getting to the hard version anytime soon! I absolutely love these pieces, though, and I’ve had to hide them from my students because they love them just as much as I do and may or may not have even tried to sneak them into their pockets to keep!
Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $75
Curiosity Box is a deep-thinker’s dream, and this quarter’s curation was especially fascinating. Featuring six intriguing and high-quality items, this box never leaves me bored! While it didn’t seem to follow a specific theme, the blend of functional, fun, and educational items made for a well-rounded experience. Though it’s geared toward adults, my kids absolutely loved this month’s inclusions and had a blast learning about chemistry and art. We especially enjoyed the game, puzzle, and ruler! I really appreciated how each item was paired with scientific context, making the experience both enriching and entertaining. This box is such a fun adventure—I can't wait to see what’s in store for the winter quarter. Bring it on, Curiosity Box!
More You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Possibly. Only a certain number of boxes are created, so once they are gone, they are gone!
What do you think about Curiosity Box?
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