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 funny phrases.
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!
Types of Time Travel T-Shirt
I always look forward to the Curiosity shirt of the season, and this month’s tee was especially intriguing. Featuring the major types of time travel from popular—and sometimes obscure—movies, books, TV shows, and other fiction, this light blue shirt is quite the conversation piece! Soft in fabric and striking in design, it caught my attention right away. I was only familiar with some of the works of fiction listed, but I was especially excited to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban included—what a fun and unique addition!
Inq's Practical Slap Bracelets
The next item I received was a huge hit in our house. Slap bracelets were totally my jam in the ’90s, and my kids have gotten cheap versions here and there throughout their childhoods. These, however, are made of sturdy silicone and come with some awesome features. One bracelet functions as a ruler, another helps you determine the diameter of a cylinder, and the last one will prove you're from the future—just in case you get lost in time. My kids are obsessed with these bracelets and have been taking them everywhere. They've been measuring everything in sight and may or may not have started a full-blown slap war. A great retro item that’s both high-quality and fun in design, these were one of our favorite surprises in this month’s box—and very useful, too!
Mr. Wiggle's Goofy Giggle-Jiggle Siphons
Charlie is all about crazy straws, so he was instantly intrigued when I started opening the next item in this season’s Curiosity Box. Inside was a brightly packaged set of siphon straws. These metal straws feature a silicone end that, when jiggled, creates a siphon effect. It was a great hands-on way to teach the boys about hydrodynamics, and the set was perfect—it included one for each kid. We played around with them for quite a while before ultimately flipping them up to use as regular straws at dinner. So cool!!!!
Animal Architecture Book
The next item we received was an absolutely gorgeous book on animal architecture. This hardcover book features stunning images by award-winning photographer Ingo Arndt and text by internationally recognized bee expert Jürgen Tautz. I already knew animals were incredible, but the photographs in this book are truly breathtaking. The baby beavers were adorable, and the spider web glistening with morning dew looked almost angelic. Charlie and Hank loved flipping through it just as much as I did. I even brought it to school to keep on my desk and share the beauty with others. An awesome inclusion—and I learned so much from it!
4-Dimensional Tape Measure
The last item I received was a truly unique 4-dimensional tape measure—the first of its kind to measure both space and time. It measures distances up to 16.4 feet and times up to 3.5 seconds, making it a surprisingly versatile little tool. To measure time, you extend the tape to the appropriate red mark (which represents seconds), hang it from a table, wall, or any other surface, then pull it back and release. The time it takes for one swing corresponds to the marked time—how cool is that? Hank was especially intrigued by this item. He had just brought a tape measure to his Life Science class for a spider project, and now he’s asked to swap it out for this one to see if his science teacher will give him extra credit. Do you think he’ll get it?
Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $70
Curiosity Box is a deep-thinker’s dream, and this quarter’s curation was especially fascinating. Featuring five 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 time, space, hydrodynamics, and chronotypology. We especially enjoyed the siphon straws, tape measure, slap bracelets, and the stunning animal architecture book—but of course, I loved the shirt too! Overall, I think this was my favorite curation to date. 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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