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Microwave Fears
I get all sorts of interesting questions. "How do you wash microwaves out of socks?" I didn't quite know what to make of this. Read more
View ArticleResistance to 2,4-D Resistant corn and soy
Get ready for a new controversy. Corn and soybeans that are genetically engineered to resist the weed killer 2,4-D are heading for approval. And they are also heading for an onslaught of opposition...
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What chemical makes self-cleaning windows possible?
Titanium dioxide. Cleaning windows is not one of life’s great pleasures. So how about a window that cleans itself? Sounds like science fiction? Well, it isn’t! Self-cleaning windows are here, thanks to...
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Nanotechnology
Richard Feynman, Nobel prize winning physicist and science popularizer par excellence liked practical jokes, but I doubt he would have enjoyed watching people in the buff parade on Chicago’s Michigan...
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The case of “Saltair Sally”
In October 2000, while walking along the shores of the "Great Salt Lake" near Salt Lake City, two hunters made a gruesome discovery. In a plastic bag, they found a white sock, a shirt, a few bones and...
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Smart Meters and Radio Waves
Are the new Smart Meters from Hydro Quebec safe? Are they different from a cordless or cell phone when it comes to RF emmissions? Cell phones, microwave ovens, wi-fi, smart meters. What do they have...
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Biotechnology in Africa
I have never really been hungry. Sure, I’ve had occasions when I could hardly wait to wolf down a slice of pizza or a serving of veggie goulash and I’ll admit to looking forward eagerly to the end of...
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Of Mummies, Pigments and Pretzels
Records indicate that the earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in the desert where the heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies creating natural 'mummies'. Later, in order to protect...
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Is Physioscan the latest hype or just old news in Naturopathy?
Here is the question that came our way: “Is Physioscan the latest hype or just old news in Naturopathy?” I had never heard of PhysioScan so I looked into it. At first I thought it was a joke. Actually,...
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“Let the Nonsense Slide Off”
So you want to buy a "green" pot or pan to avoid those nasty chemicals associated with "synthetic" non-stick coatings? They're available. A line of non-stick pots and pans is being advertised as having...
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The Japanese Scientist and His Crappy Meat
It sounds believable. After all the Japanese do eat some strange things. They eat “fugu,” prepared from puffer fish which if not properly eviscerated contains enough tetrodotoxin to kill the diner. I...
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A Different Type of Electric Chair
I was asked by a salesman for the "Magnesphere" Company to take a look at their magnetic system that is supposed to treat various conditions. The people who hosted me made no claims other than that...
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How close to the wind can a conventional sailboat sail? Is there a...
Good question. I don't think there's a fundamental limit that is the result of some physical law. I think the 45 degree rule is about **efficiency** - if you sail any closer than this, then you're not...
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You Asked: Is it true that keeping a cell phone in a bra can cause breast...
Yesterday Dr. Oz had a 21 year old woman as a guest who believes that keeping a cell phone in her bra for four years caused her breast cancer. Oz described that the location of the tumour corresponded...
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Tires and ice don’t make for a good mix
Ice is great in a beverage or on a skating rink but we don’t want it on our streets. How do we melt it? Potassium acetate, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride or urea will do the...
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Metal in the Micro
Because I take the odd shot at Dr. Oz (he is after all such an inviting target) people send me reports of some of his antics. Apparently he, or one of his guests, muttered something about using...
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You Asked: Are foam puzzle mats toxic for children?
There was a question about the possible toxicity of the popular foam puzzle mats that children play with and on. The concern is about exposure to formamide being released. This chemical is used in the...
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Making it up
Several people have sent me this video of a Harvard student "inventing" a 3-D printer that cranks out cosmetics at home. She starts out by telling us that the cosmetics industry, a $55 billion annual...
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Electronic Waste
Some people are concerned about radiation from cell phones possibly causing brain tumours. Others worry about exposure to wi-fi causing cancer. And now I’m getting questions about whether cell phones...
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