Plaster of Paris derives its name from the fact that it was originally obtained from rock quarried at Montmartre, a suburb of Paris. This common construction material indirectly led to the first...
To make an antivenin, small doses of poison are injected into horses or goats.聽 The amount of toxin is not enough to kill the animal but is enough to trigger the production of antibodies.聽 These...
Gelotophobia can best be defined as the 鈥減otentially debilitating fear of being laughed at.鈥� A person suffering from gelotophobia may hear a stranger鈥檚 laugh and believe it is aimed at him or her....
Think of a ghastly smell. Skunk? Halitosis? BO? Outhouse? Rotting fish? Rancid butter? Dog flatus? Decomposing flesh? All devastating. But let鈥檚 not forget the penetrating fragrance of a billy goat...
In 1853 the Queen鈥檚 personal physician, Dr. John Snow dripped an ounce of chloroform on a handkerchief which was then held next to the royal mouth as Prince Leopold was delivered.聽 Her Majesty was...
Chances are you鈥檒l see sodium acid pyrophosphate or sodium bisulfite listed on the label of a package of frozen French fries. They鈥檙e added to deal with that bane of potato lovers, the dark, gray...
Sulphuric acid, which has the traditional name, 鈥渙il of vitriol.鈥� It is a nasty, corrosive liquid, making 鈥渧itriolic鈥� an apt term for virulent language. At first it may seem odd that the term ...
There are several species of such frogs which contain such powerful toxins that just brushing against its poisonous skin is enough to kill an adult human. One hundredth of a milligram of...
The durian grows mostly in southeast Asia where it is referred to as 鈥淭he King of Fruit.鈥� The only problem is that the king needs a bath. While people speak in exalted terms about the taste of the...
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