Science journalist John Rennie is an amazing story teller. In this recording from Story Collider, he explains how he became the lab safety officer in his post-undergrad biology laboratory in the early 1980s (it involves being the only person who was concerned when other people started scooping up mercury with their bare hands). The peak of his experience: The day he stuck his arm, up past the elbow, into a barrel of liquid nitrogen. Good times.
True tales of a laboratory safety officer
Here's what really happens when you swallow gum
If you swallow chewing gum, does it really stay in your body for seven years? In this video from the Institute of Human Anatomy, "lead dissector" Jonathan Bennion reveals the truth and how much it's stretched. The video below will give you something to chew on: READ THE REST
Sex as a cure for nasal congestion, flying rhinoceroses, and cat-human communication: winners of the 2021 Ig Nobel prizes
For 31 years, the Annals of Improbable Research have awarded the delightful Ig Nobel Prizes honoring scientific "achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think." Of this year's ten winners announced yesterday, here are a few of my favorites: * Lund University's Susanne Schötz, "for analyzing variations in purring, chirping, chattering, trilling,… READ THE REST
Sci-Hub, the "pirate bay of science," undergoes expansion
Sci-Hub provides free access to millions of papers and books. Its disregard for copyright makes it the target of legal threats, but its mission of providing open access to publicly-funded studies has made it overwhelmingly popular among scientists and lay readers alike. And it's growing again. "It's a place where people can find scientific studies… READ THE REST
Get a full rundown on what's causing your pet's tummy troubles with this food tolerance test
We as humans run the gamut in super weird food allergies, from gluten to seafood (and, consequentially, cicadas apparently), but your precious pet may also be allergic to a host of other foods you're unknowingly feeding them. Everything from proteins to wheat could be causing your critter distress unbeknownst to you, and that's pretty scary.… READ THE REST
Transform your room into a miniature planetarium with this $150 solar system lamp set
For as long as humans have existed, the cosmos has fascinated us. The endless sea of stars has birthed countless stories that have inspired and enthralled us for ages. After all, how could something so vast and unknown not spark some creativity? Now, it's the inspiration behind what will soon be your new home makeover.… READ THE REST
