Chlorine gas is a very useful oxidant, which was first introduced as a toxic weapon by the German Army. Even today, it's still used as a weapon, most recently in the Iraq War by insurgents. But chlorine gas has more useful (and less lethal) applications, and if you want to lea ...more
This is a science experiment illustrating the reaction between chlorine, sodium & water.
Chlorine gas is bubbled up along with acetylene gas through a large graduated cylinder filled with water. Where the bubbles of the two collide, an instantaneous, bright flash of light occurs.
There's an ongoing debate about whether or not it's safe or even desirable to rinse meat before you cook it. Many fall into the anti-rinsing camp, saying that it's not effective at dislodging bacteria, especially on poultry, as we've discussed before. Meanwhile, some argue tha ...more
The day has finally arrived — Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S9 and S9+. Apart from minor upgrades, the two might not appear to be much different from last year's S8 and S8+, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. One feature that hasn't changed is the Galaxy's IP68 water-re ...more
I own two aprons—a cute one for company, and another for the hard-core cooking duties, like cutting up chicken and making stock. The sad truth is that I almost never remember to wear either of them. So, much of my clothing ends up spattered with grease, liquid, and bits of fru ...more
The new iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max may seem like minor updates to the iPhone 11 lineup, but there are quite a few features that make them worth the upgrade. Apple has done a good job of highlighting all of those features, but some didn't get all of the love the ...more
About ten years ago, Western research figured out that green tea was a nutritional powerhouse. After all, in Asian countries where green tea is consumed throughout the day, cancer rates tend to be much lower, although there are probably other factors contributing to that fact, ...more
Not to be outdone by Apple and it's new line of flagship phones, Google has followed suit and finally announced the followup to their highly regarded Pixel line of handsets — the aptly named Pixel 2. Thankfully, the tech giant has also joined in on the trend towards more durab ...more
In case you didn't catch the big event in Cupertino, Apple just unveiled two of the most cutting-edge phones ever made — the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X. Out of the many glorious specs that were rattled off on stage, one stands out for being just a little confusing: Both models ...more
When it comes to resistance to the elements, Samsung seems to believe in the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." They've carried over the IP68 rating under IEC 60529 that was first found on the S8 all the way to their tenth-anniversary flagship, the Galaxy S10. While ...more
Once again, Samsung has certified its flagship Note series with an IP68 rating. With this rating, the Galaxy Note 20 and 20 Ultra have some degree of dust and water resistance. The IEC standard 60529 lays out a series of tests created by the National Electrical Manufacturers ...more
Etching your own circuit boards is tons of fun, but etching requires strong chemicals to dissolve the copper plating on blank circuit boards. The normal ferric chloride solution works well, but can be expensive and leaves permanent stains. Luckily, we can whip up our own etcha ...more
Most of you probably spread ketchup all over hamburgers and fries. Some of you may even drink it straight. But did you know that tame (and slightly addictive) condiment in your fridge is also a powerful cleaning agent? Melissa Ibbitson, 19, consumes 3 bottles of ketchup every ...more
Samsung's not one to make drastic changes to what already works. They've continued on with the IP68 rating under IEC 60529 first given to the Galaxy S8 all the way to the the Galaxy Note 10. If you're a little confused as to what this rating means, don't worry, it's actually p ...more
After months of waiting, the iPhone 11 is here. At an event in Cupertino, Apple unveiled the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro max. You probably have a lot of questions after reviewing the specs sheet, including wanting to know more about the IP68 rating that all three phones have. ...more
Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make a chemiluminescent reaction with home chemicals. Make a chemiluminescent singlet oxygen red light pulse from two simple chemicals almost anyone can buy: pool chlorine and hydrogen peroxide. NOTE: This is not a tr ...more
When Apple announced its new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models in San Francisco, one of the biggest new features was an "IP67" water-resistance rating. Couple that with a few official renderings that show the new iPhone covered in water, and you'd probably arrive at one logica ...more
They're finally here. Apple announced three new iPhone models at their "Gather Round" event in Cupertino, and they're all absolutely gorgeous phones. With bezel-less screens and polished titanium edges, the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are truly marvels of engineering — but perha ...more
With summer just ahead, you, or your children, may be looking forward to some pool time or the water park. When planning water-based fun this year, keep a heads-up for microbes. Between the germs on the bodies of swimmers and fecal material in the water, the clean looks of th ...more
Samsung's new line of Galaxy S20 flagships have a water resistance rating of IP68. This means you don't have to worry as much about getting the phones wet, but there's a limit to that. The IEC standard 60529 outlines a series of tests performed by the National Electrical Manu ...more
So cute, so furry, and so chock full of parasites. While raccoons are fun to watch, they are neither friendly nor clean — and they can make you sick in more ways than one. Native to North America, you can find raccoons just about everywhere except for parts of the Rocky Mount ...more
New techniques may improve a swimming pool workout from Masters coach Nancy Kirkpatrick Reno. Before sticking a toe in the water, consider this advice: * Swim in a pool that's at least 20 to 25 yards long; those pools can usually be found at high schools and some gyms. A 50-me ...more
Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make iodine from an alkali metal iodide, hydrochloric acid (HCI), and hydroxide peroxide (H2O2). Warning: This reaction makes small amounts of chlorine gas and should be performed outside or in a fumehood. This metho ...more
Food labeling is a tricky beast. For instance, when I read the words "cage-free" on an egg carton, I think it means that happy chickens frolic in a sunlit meadow all the livelong day until they're gently herded into a clean, sweet-smelling coop to lay a few dozen eggs—which I ...more
Cut out the old caulk with a utility knife. Trim along the sink where the old caulk was located. Scrape out stubborn caulk with a putty knife or a paint scraper. Mix bleach and water mixture. The mixture should be one part chlorine bleach with three parts warm water. Use the ...more
When it comes to busted smartphones, liquid damage ranks right up there with shattered screens as one of the most common issues owners have to deal with—as well as the most embarrassing. Thankfully, though, with the rise of waterproof phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 and e ...more
Your ironing skills are rusty, and so is your iron. Now you’ve got rust stains on your blouse. What to do? You Will Need * A steel-wool pad * Lemon juice * Water * Cloths or paper towels * Vinegar WARNING: If your fabric is not machine-washable or color-safe, have it professi ...more
Make your underwater dreams come true by turning yourself into a bona fide swimming mermaid. If mermaids did exist, you would be the perfect candidate to transform into the mythical creature. So check out this video tutorial form Little Orca to learn how to make your own merma ...more
Science is most marvelous when it's creating an explosion, even at the tiniest of proportions. In the video below, Daniel Rosenberg from Harvard's Natural Science Lecture Demonstration Services reveals the secret to shooting a cork rocket over twenty meters using a little chem ...more
Want to make your homemade pancakes and waffles fluffier? To enjoy a restaurant-quality breakfast, simply replace liquids used in the recipe with club soda. Need to prepare a lot of raw oysters by hand before the big buffet? Dunking your oysters in club soda before shucking w ...more
Mixing water and electricity is extremely risky and potentially lethal, yet that's exactly what I did with the Scariac. In its simplest form, the Scariac is just a glorified version of two wires in a bucket of water, but it's actually one of the cheapest power controllers you ...more
It’s time for science. You are able to calculate the molar mass for a compound using the periodic table and the amount of compound involved. You might need to know this in your everyday life but you will definitely need this in a chemistry class. The molar mass of a chemical ...more
Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make silver chloride for a photochemistry test. They show the chemistry of photography using silver chloride that they make themselves from table salt and silver nitrate. Silver chloride has the interesting property t ...more
My morning just doesn't start without a cup of coffee and an incredibly hot shower. There's nothing better than sloughing off sleep with a dose of warm, cleansing water. Except, as scientists are pointing out, our habit of showering daily isn't exactly the healthiest choice. T ...more
Kimchi can be spelled in a variety of ways (gimchi, kimchee, kim tee), but what is it exactly? It's a Korean pickled dish made with vegetables and varied seasonings, and it's the most common side dish in South Korea. In this video tutorial, you'll gain the recipe for making ki ...more
Purchase the necessary equipment for this project. Pumice stones can be purchased at any beauty supply store. Chlorine can be purchased from any household supply store. Sodium bisulfite can usually be found at hobby stores. Obtaining the industrial washing machines for persona ...more
Lowe's home improvement expert Mike Craft gives the low down on how to maintain your swimming pool. Pool maintenance is essential for keeping your pool like new and in tip-top condition. You will need some basic materials such as water test strips, chlorine tablets, algae-cide ...more
Look no further than Flint, Michigan, to discover the serious consequences of contaminated drinking water. Around the world, water polluted by pathogens and toxins sickens people or cuts them off from safe drinking water. Looking for a solution, researchers created tiny, swimm ...more
In this tutorial, Tom Howard shows us how to bleach jeans the proper way. This is far better than just placing your clothes in the washing machine the normal way. To do this the correct way, put your water level low (for one item) in your washing machine. Now, make sure the te ...more
This video will show you how to test the Chlorine and PH levels of your swimming pool water with a test kit. Video: .
Norovirus outbreaks occur all year long, but peak in the winter months, which means we are in the middle of norovirus season. But there's still time to protect yourself from the highly infectious bug. There's no vaccine for the virus that causes one to three days of misery—ab ...more
Scientific studies have shown that species with large swimbladders, especially bottom dwelling fish such as grouper and snapper, derive an immediate benefit from venting. A venting tool is to be used on fish which are showing classic signs of swimbladder rupture which includes ...more
Remove mildew as soon as you see it: not only is it gross, the longer the mold is allowed to grow, the more damage it can do to surfaces and even your health. You Will Need: * Rubber gloves * A spray bottle * A bottle of liquid chlorine bleach * A plastic-bristled scrub brus ...more
In its latest feature with an assist from augmented reality in storytelling, the New York Times shows readers the virtual crime scene it constructed to prove that the Syrian military conducted chemical warfare against its citizens. In the article, "How We Created a Virtual Cr ...more
Is your swimming pool a little cloudy? It may be cause by a number of things, and Lowe's has the answers to fixing this problem. Mike Kraft, Lowe's home improvement expert, shares his tips for clearing that cloudy swimming pool water in no time. Learn how to backwash pool filt ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to paint aluminum siding. Steps: 1. Rub siding with cloth to check for powdery paint pigment and mildew. 2. Cover ground and nearby shrubs with drop cloths. 3. Test old siding paint for lead using a lead test kit; if lead is p ...more
Great Cleaning Products that Won't Leave You Feeling Dirty! After that delicious organic meal you served, you probably head to your kitchen to start washing your dirty dishes. Now before you reach for that dish soap, read whats on the back of its label. That bacteria killing ...more
We've worked hard to reduce the flow of toxic chemicals into our waterways, which means no more DDT and other bad actors to pollute or destroy wildlife and our health. But one observation has been plaguing scientists for decades: Why are large quantities of one toxic chemical ...more
Prevent infection by keeping your ear, nose, lip, tongue, navel, eyebrow, and other body piercings clean. Step 1 When you’re ready to get a piercing, be sure to consult the Association of Professional Piercers for a trained and licensed body artist. Step 2 Use jewelry that i ...more
As a pale white boy growing up in Florida, you learn how to deal with sunburns. Most people will say to take cool showers to relieve the heat, but that only temporarily alleviates symptoms. The problem is that the sun has evaporated the moisture from the skin. The answer to re ...more
The proper steps to close your swimming pool. The temperature in your region will be the key deciding factor on whether to close your pool or not. If you are closing the pool there is certain equipment you will require. A pool brush, skimmer net, pool vacuum, water tests stri ...more
Everybody into the pool! Or the ocean! But not before you take measures to prevent your hair from getting fried. You Will Need * Leave-in hair conditioner with sunscreen * Club soda * A clarifying shampoo * A sulfate-free shampoo * A deep conditioner Step 1: Wet hair before s ...more
This how-to video demonstrates how to make unique earth-friendly wedding invitations that only look expensive. Learn about chlorine free paper, translucent velum, and how to use natural embellishments for your wedding invitations. Start making your own wedding invitations today.
Like Michaelangelo and Carerra had marble, this anonymous artist du jour had a plastic stirrer and spare flame. This beautifully intricate design was created by burning plastic. What you see artfully illustrates the chemical process known as thermosetting. Plastic melting emi ...more