Increased media attention on beauty and perfection has influenced many to turn to cosmetic surgery. A recent survey revealed that, if possible, many would consider altering their eye colour. Now,...
If you see a product label that lists “guar gum" or "cellulose gum” among its ingredients you would probably expect to chew rather than lick. But these substances are critical to making a smooth...
Inhaling the breath of a duck that was captured in a test tube was once used to treat disorders of the mouth and throat in children. Talk about quack medicine!
Fujian Province in south-east China has the highest incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract cancers in the whole country. The culprit in all likelihood is well water which is...
Danbury, Connecticut used to be the center of the American hat industry. It was also known for the “Danbury shakes,” a condition that encompassed tremors, incoherent speech, difficulty in walking...
Phocomelia is a birth defect that has been linked to the drug thalidomide. This word derives from the Greek words for “seal” and “limb.” Thalidomide prescribed to pregnant women for morning...
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...
Chances are you’ll see sodium acid pyrophosphate or sodium bisulfite listed on the label of a package of frozen French fries. They’re added to deal with that bane of potato lovers, the dark, gray...
To make an antivenin, small doses of poison are injected into horses or goats. The amount of toxin is not enough to kill the animal but is enough to trigger the production of antibodies. These...
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