When one thinks of the Science Museum in Kensington, it's forgiveable to imagine it populated with the science boffins and nerds from school who have taken their scientific nerdiness to the highest level by working at the museum of chemistry, physics and biology. It's possible that the love of creating ad hoc stink bombs and blowing up bunsen burners never leaves the genuine geek, and so the Science Museum was shut yesterday due to a "chemical incident".
The as yet unexplained "chemical incident" resulted in 22 staff and contractors developing itchy eyes and sore throats mid-morning yesterday, requiring medical attention and no less than 20 firefighters arriving on site. Three staff members were taken to nearby Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for treatment - they were not deemed seriously ill, but the entire museum had to be evacuated and shut down and only reopened today. No visitors were affected, an investigation is being carried out and there may well be a series of detentions and stern letters home about the deplorable lack of responsibility around dangerous chemicals. After all, this isn't a place where science only extends to chucking some mint sweets into a fizzy drink, these guys are dealing with some serious stuff here.
