The irresistible stories in Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers reveals the little-known byways of scientific progress, where setbacks and mishaps are the norm, breakthroughs are the exception, and advances meant to improve people's lives can spectacularly backfire.Meticulously research by the internationally acclaimed New Scientist magazine, these stories of haphazard discovery, delusion and greed include the doctor who thought he could cure madness with a quick spin in a centrifuge, the engineer who came up with a radio that ran on gas, and the two young men who dug a giant hole and discovered the centre of the galaxy. Not to mention the intriguing case of New Zealand farmer Richard Buckley and his spontaneously combusting nether garments...Whether you're a believer in science or a sceptic, Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers will be a blast of exhilarating and frequently hilarious fresh air. It's an inspiring reminder of how the most unpromising lines of enquiry can sometimes, against all the odds, lead to brilliant results.