In this episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage, the hosts and guests delve into the unexpected history of the Royal Society, founded in 1660, discussing unusual experiments and scientific quirks of early members. They highlight misconceptions in historical science and explore how storytelling influenced scientific inquiry, citing examples like the cyclops myth linked to elephant fossils. The episode also covers pivotal figures like Edmund Halley and Mary Anning, emphasizing their contributions and challenges in a male-dominated field, while noting the Royal Society's role in early scientific communication and discovery.