Atomic Energy Lab
In the 1950s, the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab promised kids a glimpse into the mysterious world of nuclear physics. This “educational” toy included real radioactive uranium ore samples, a Geiger counter, and even a cloud chamber to observe radiation tracks. The idea was to inspire young scientists by letting them experiment with “atomic energy” at home.
Sounds cool, right? But the reality was far more dangerous. Parents unknowingly exposed children to radiation doses that today would be strictly illegal. The government soon realized handing out radioactive materials to kids wasn’t a great idea, and the kit was pulled from stores. Now it’s a collectible relic of a time when safety regulations were… well, pretty radioactive themselves.
Little Miss No-Name
Hasbro’s Little Miss No-Name was marketed in 1965 as a doll designed to teach empathy—an orphan child doll with a forlorn expression, tattered clothes, and even a single painted tear. But kids weren’t comforted by her sorrowful face; many found her haunting and sad rather than lovable.
The doll’s large, glassy eyes and permanent frown gave her a ghostly vibe that unsettled children. Parents complained she gave their kids nightmares instead of nurturing compassion. Production ceased quickly, but Little Miss No-Name remains a bizarre and eerie relic, a doll that was supposed to tug heartstrings but ended up tugging on fears.
