As a kid I made a "power line" antenna for a rather elaborate crystal set I'd made. You take an extension cord and cut off the female end. At that end cut one wire back about 3". Strip the other of insulation for about 1/2" and attach it to the Fahnestock clip for the antenna. Then cut an inch or so out of the other wire at the plug. Now you have an extension cord with one hot wire running along side a dead wire for 8 or 10 feet.
The theory is that induction from the live wire into the dead, antenna, wire will supply the crystal set with what it needs.
I did all that, put on my earphones and plugged it into the wall. I got slammed with such a jolt I had a bit of a time unplugging it. Turned out I had confused the wires and had plugged the hot one into the radio.
Not smart. Kind of dumb, really, but what the hell. I was 13.