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Popular YouTube 'King of Random' Dies In Paraglider Accident

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The creator of the YouTube channel "King of Random," whose experiments and hands-on science tips drew 11 million subscribers, has died in a Utah paragliding crash.

 

Jonathan Grant Thompson, 38, was found dead on Monday, Washington County Sheriff's Lt. David Crouse said. The cause is under investigation.

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Thompson's videos have been watched more than a billion times.

 

They range from filling a balloon with liquid nitrogen to making a laser-assisted blowgun. Some were practical, like how to get better cell phone reception, while others were whimsical, like building a raft from rice cakes.

 

His most popular video was about how to make gummy candies in the shape of Legos.

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Thompson made headlines last year after complaints about explosions in his suburban Salt Lake City backyard brought criminal charges. He agreed to make safety-themed videos as part of a plea deal.

 

His many followers are expressing their condolences, calling him a creative force on the platform whose unconventional approach sparked their interest in science.

 

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YouTube said in a tweet that he was a "gifted, passionate and endlessly curious creator."

 

Thompson had been making videos since 2010.