Throughout history, the existence and use of poison has always been a subject of mystery and intrigue. Now, thanks to the generous support from Zions Bank, the R. Harold Burton Foundation, Wheeler Machinery Co., the Lawrence T. & Janet T. Dee Foundation, the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation, and the Salt Lake County Zoo Arts & Parks, The Power of Poison, a special traveling exhibit, is in residence at the Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center. The exhibit highlights the unique story of poisons and their role in nature, fairytales, science, and some of the world’s most interesting unsolved crime cases. This engaging exhibit is organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Step into Columbia’s Chocó forest to discover how poisons protect plants and animals from predators. See golden poison dart frogs, toxic enough to kill 10 adults. Discover how Alice in Wonderland’s “Mad Hatter” may have been poisoned by toxic chemicals previously used to make hats. Take a seat at the live theater to understand how toxicology (study of poisons) came to be. Examine a Gila monster to learn how an element found in its venom now helps people with Type 2 diabetes.

The exhibit runs through April 16. More information is online at nhmu.utah.edu/poison.