From the accidental creation of Silly Putty to an abandoned attempt to build a universal language, University College London's latest exhibition, Flop, offers new ways to look at failure

The failure to make synthetic rubber created one of the world’s most enduring toys, Silly Putty Matt Clayton

Flop: 13 stories of failure The Octagon University College London (Until 10 April 2020)

QUITTING your job? Then do remember to clear out your locker. One former employee of University College London left a bottle of home-made plum brandy in a drawer. The macerated plum was eventually discovered, mulled over (sorry), misidentified as a testicle (species unknown) and added to the university’s collection.

It is this selection of paintings, prints, objects and medical exhibits that provides the items for Flop, taking place …