This map shows the 9,000 chemical plants across the U.S. where, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, a "catastrophic chemical release" could occur. It helps us answer an unsavory question—whether you live near a potentially dangerous chemical plant.
Chemical fires are usually bad, but when they’re intentional, controlled and consuming weird Christmas/santa ring pops (is that what that is?) they’re easily endorsable. mist8k apparently agrees, because you know what molten potassium chloride does really well? Chemical fires!
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You probably have no idea where the ink in your pen comes from, much less whether it’s a simple factory process or demanding of more expertise. Josh Velson, a chemical engineering consultant for bio and petrochemicals, has your answer.
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Have you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed Mercury(II) thiocyanate (Hg(SCN)2) and Ammonium chromate (NH4)2CrO4 together and then lit it on fire? NO?! What’s wrong with you? It’s unbelievably hellish and impossibly alien combined with one burning force of what the horrifically kraken insane.
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You know what I hate about eating? The constant conversation on whether this food is good for you or bad for you. It seems to change everyday! New reports say this will cause cancer. Other reports say the same thing can prevent it. Even awful food that contains arsenic and other toxic chemicals can be somehow reasoned to be not as bad for you. This video by BuzzFeed shows you what’s toxic inside the food you eat (birthday cake! chicken!) but how it isn’t all that bad for you either. Let’s just either eat what’s delicious or not eat at all! [BuzzFeed Video]
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Caffeine. For most of us, that’s the only chemical compound in coffee that’s worth a damn. But that’s far from the only thing that’s hiding in that simmering cup of black (or light brownish) glory that you suck down every morning. Cockroach pheromones? Rotting meat-smell? Check and check. Drink up! [Wired via Neatorama]
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Those without a strong stomach should look away now. When Gabriel Morais set to wondering what different foods do to his body, he naturally wondered how different items affect the color of his poop. Here are the results. More »
Valentine’s Day is coming up (it’s Thursday I hear), which probably means you’ll be eating overpriced chocolate with your sweet loved one or eating fair priced chocolate alone. Either way, have no guilt because chocolate is “good” for you! These five scientific facts about the chemicals of chocolate prove it so. I BELIEVE. More »
A new treatment applied to cotton called PNIPAAm can make the material absorb up to 340% of its own weight in water from misty air and then release it as temperatures heat up. This makes it ideal for gathering water in desert and mountain environments. By comparison, untreated cotton can absorb only 18% of its weight in water.
Created by researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the coated cotton can grab water from misty air, store it, and then release it. The water remains pure and unadulterated by the cotton. The process is repeatable again and again and the polymer can be applied to any cotton material.
The process, sometimes called fog harvesting, mirrors the system used by some beetles that collect water on their shells which then roll into their mouths. At low temperatures, the cotton fiber remains wide open and receptive to moisture. Once the temperaure rises above 34 degrees Celius, the cotton contracts and becomes hydrophobic, thereby releasing the clean water. The creators expect this to work well in agricultural uses but could be useful to collect water overnight in hot environments or create wicking clothing for athletes.
According to a release on Eurekalert, the material isn’t expensive to produce and the researchers are working on ways to optimise the new material for everyday use. Perhaps the Stillsuit is closer than even the Bene Gesserit witch expected?
Eventually, that shiny new iPhone 5 will have to meet its untimely end, whether it’s in a landfill or (preferably) a recycling company’s machinery. When it does, you’ll at least be glad to know that Apple has kept the toxin levels down. HealthyStuff and iFixit have dissected the extra skinny smartphone and put it in the same “low concern” category for potential harm that’s normally occupied by phones wearing their green credentials on their sleeves. Lest anyone rush to tell Greenpeace about the feat, just remember that there’s a difference between proficiency at excising dangerous chemicals and getting rid of them completely: HealthyStuff still found small traces of bromine, chlorine, lead and mercury in the iPhone 5’s construction, which could pose risks if the handset is ever broken apart or melted for scrap. Some concern also exists that the x-ray fluorescence spectrometer doesn’t reveal the full extent of any toxic materials. Whether or not these remain sore points for you, the new iPhone is at least easier on the eco-friendly conscience than most of its peers.
Continue reading iPhone 5 chemical study shows a green Apple, leaves room for improvement
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
iPhone 5 chemical study shows a green Apple, leaves room for improvement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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