In August 1931 New Zealand farmer Richard Buckley hit the local headlines
- or rather his trousers did. One minute they were drying in front of the fire; the next there was a huge blast & a ball of flames. Farmer Buckleys trousers had exploded. The culprit? A popular pesticide of the day which when combined with clothing fibres unexpectedly formed a highly combustible compound. This incendiary story is a striking example of how scientific advances meant to improve peoples lives can sometimes backfire. Contrary to the widespread belief that science & technology move steadily on from one discovery to the next the fascinating stories in this entertaining collection present some of the unfamiliar characters & events that litter the path of scientific progress where setbacks & mishaps are the norm & breakthroughs are the exception.