It’s not often you’ll hear excitement about the most disgusting y-fronts, but a group of Aussie scientists have been very excited about the dirty, rotten y-fronts they’ve been sent in recent times. The “Soil Your Undies” research project is designed to assess the soil health around Australia. Apparently cotton y-fronts are the perfect medium to…
Research
A to Z Reflection (and poison PS)
Another A to Z done and dusted. Now it’s time to look back and reflect. I always like to look at the statistics (I am a scientist after all), so please bear with me while I rattle off a few numbers. If you’d rather skip that, I have a fabulous PS to add to my…
A to Z Challenge: Z (poisons & stories of their use)
Anti-freeze Fast Facts:– Engine coolant– Contains ethylene glycol– Sweet tasting– Causes inebriation– Dyed green to be able to detect it– One of the top homicidal poisons in USA The main ingredient in anti-freeze is ethylene glycol which is poisonous. It only takes a small amount of anti-freeze to poison a person. As your body absorbs…
A to Z Challenge: Y (poisons & stories of their use)
Strychnine Fast Facts:– From the seeds of the Strychnos nux vomica (most common)– Native to India and SE Asia– A common pesticide– Used in heroin– Causes muscle spasms– Death is from exhaustion and asphyxia– No antidote– Used by serial killer Thomas Cream A naturally occurring poison, strychnine is obtained from seeds of the Dog Button…
A to Z Challenge: X (poisons & stories of their use)
Anthrax Fast Facts:– From a bacteria: Bacillus anthracis– Found naturally in the soil– Not contagious– Humans can contract it from infected animals– Can be vaccinated against it– About 2,000 cases a year– Fatality rates depend on method of contraction– Famous for the 2001 anthrax attacks in the USA Anthrax is an infection caused by a…