Crosse's acari Andrew Crosse was born on 17th June 1784 to a wealthy English Family. Fifty three years later in 1837 one of Crosse's experiments resulted in a puzzle which science has yet to explain. It seems that from inanimate matter, Crosse created life. Crosse wrote a report of his discovery and sent it to the 'Electrical Society' in London. A man called, 'W.H. Weeks' of Sandwich, Kent, was chosen to repeat Crosse's experiment. Meanwhile many people where dismissing Crosse as a publicity seeker. It is reported that Michael Faraday gave a lecture at the Royal Institute which attacked all those who doubted Crosse. Then both Messrs. Weeks and Faraday both agreed that the experiment did indeed give birth to a life form that Crosse called the acari. This damaged Crosse more, as deeply religious people saw this as meddling in the act of Creation, "a man who set himself up a rival of God". To this day, scientists are mystified as to what Crosse actually discovered. Some believe the acari were Glyophagus Domesticus, an insect which seems to hold onto life in no matter what conditions. Others believe that Crosse merely created chemical constituents which took the appearance of something living. 固opFoto / Fortean