New Exhibit Spills About "Poison"

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science sure knows how to mix it up! Earlier this year, visitors could find attractions about the Silk Road or mythical creatures like mermaids, dragons, and unicorns. Yes, this is still a museum with nature and science in its name. The Silk Road installation was fascinating but largely historical, with little to no natural or scientific content. To follow that up with a debate about creatures with no basis in fact -- obviously, no credible evidence, carbon-dated remains, or live specimens to display -- feels like they're pandering to the imagination (and wallets) of the public.

This isn't supposed to be Disney World; a museum's job should be to educate and enlighten as well as entertain, and such flights of fancy are better suited elsewhere. Thankfully, the latest DMNS exhibit, "The Power Of Poison," is a complete 180-degree turn and a welcome change from the previous programming. By discussing the biological, cultural, and practical applications of these controversial substances, the museum is living up to its name and its mission.

The first stop upon entering "The Power Of Poison" is the rainforest... well, a small-scale re-creation of one. Through informative placards and models, the exhibit explains how poison in both plants and animals helps maintain this intricate ecosystem. There are even poison-dart tree frogs on display -- one of the most dangerous animals in these jungles -- safely housed inside a small, temperature-regulated case.

The next major section is a brief survey of notable appearances by poison throughout culture and literature. While this area is not specifically nature or science-oriented, it was interesting to see wide-ranging perspectives about the uses and fears of these substances. From an ancient Sudanese legend about the origin of death to the prolific mystery writing of Agatha Christie, poison has been an element of storytelling for centuries.

The exhibit really exceeds expectations by offering several fully interactive displays that challenge visitors to use some of the knowledge they've been acquiring. First, a live, 15-minute demonstration involves a real-life case from the 1800s and how its game-changing evidence improved the detection of toxins. In the next room, there are two additional iPad-based activities to determine if you can identify the sources of accidental poisoning in the described scenarios.

Finally, the installation concludes with a focus on the medicinal and pharmacological uses of poison, something that doesn't come up very often. A series of wall panels highlight the many unexpected benefits from unlikely creatures and plants, which helps to take the stigma out of words like "poison" and "venom." It says a lot about the natural world that these substances, regularly dismissed as dangerous, can be used in so many different ways that are actually helpful.

I actually learned a lot from "The Power Of Poison." Stop me if you've heard these facts before!

The poison-dart tree frog is roughly 3 inches in size, but just one of these frogs has enough toxicity to kill 10 people at a time.
Bad things come in small packages! But they look so cute and colorful...

There are over 3,000 different species of snakes on the planet, but only about 10% of them are venomous enough to harm people.
I'm still staying away from any snake just in case! Unless I'm having a Britney moment.

The Mad Hatter from "Alice In Wonderland" may have been a real person.
The expression "mad as a hatter" comes from the mercury poisoning and subsequent mental deterioration that many hat-makers experienced during their production.

Arsenic was such a common method of murder during the French aristocracy that it earned its own nickname, which translates to "inheritance powder."
Equally horrible and hilarious. I'd tell France "nice work," but that might make me an accessory...

Venom from scorpions, snakes, spiders, and even jellyfish has been synthesized in treatments for conditions like arthritis, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.
It's about time for those critters to do something other than scare me!

The yew tree, which contains a powerful, cancer-fighting chemical, only yields about 10 grams of medicine per ton of harvested bark.
Which may be a more effective method of production than trying to create it in a lab!

As a special treat for attending the exhibition's opening party, which offered "poison apples" (a.k.a. red cheesecake pops), we were given the opportunity to make a few "potions" of our own. The first table was for emotions, and participants could mix their own room fragrance or body spray by combining essential oils. I chose to make the courage blend, which contains the essences of spearmint and fir and provides a fresh, earthy smell. The second table was for healing, and it allowed people to use very small amounts of poisonous plant oil to create a healthy additive for water, tea, or other beverages. According to the staff, my concoction of foxglove, mandrake, and poppy (with an orange base for scent and flavor) is intended to promote fortitude and stamina, new perspectives, and positive thoughts, respectively.

"The Power Of Poison" will be available through January 10. It doesn't take very long to get through the whole thing -- about 90 minutes, maybe longer if you stop to read literally every detail. Even at an expedited pace, it still feels like you're really getting something out of it. The exhibit is included with your admission (no extra charge for this special attraction), so be sure to add it as part of your visit in the next few months. Even if you don't attend DMNS regularly, it's definitely worth a special trip to see what's bubbling up.