The Curiosity Box

What's in the box: A seasonal mix of custom science toys or optical gadgets, a puzzle, a book, a themed T-shirt and stickers or pins, with a booklet explaining each item.

The Curiosity Box is a quarterly subscription from Michael Stevens of the Vsauce YouTube channel, made for curious adults rather than children. It is listed here under puzzles, but it is really a general science and curiosity box. Each season mixes an optical gadget or science toy, a book, a themed T-shirt, and stickers or pins, and most seasons include at least one puzzle. Recent boxes have included a Camera Lucida, a History of the Earth helical jigsaw, Inq Blocks puzzles, a 60-in-1 Crystal Hexagram spatial puzzle and a Möbius scarf. Puzzle fans will usually find one or two good pieces per box, but not a whole box of brainteasers. The items are custom made and tied to real history and science, and an included booklet explains each one. The site lists $75 per box on the quarterly plan, or $280 billed once a year ($70 per box) with a free gift for annual subscribers. That is a real expense four times a year, and whether it is worth it depends on how much you value shirts and stickers next to the bigger items. The site lists the contents of past boxes, so you can get a good sense of the style before you subscribe. Some items are sold as pre-orders and ship later.