Kitchen Science (or why you should quit smoking)

A group of Japanese scientists did this little home experiement that they captured on video

A dramatic view of why smoking gives you cancer.


Still Smoking? Watch This !! – video powered by Metacafe

When I was a student at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, there were always a few students in every class who continued to smoke. I understand addiction in my own little way, but still. When the first example in your epidemiology class is working on the stats of lung cancer and smoking, it made me wonder if they should flunk that class. Just, you know, on the spot.

The link comes by way of Scientist, Interrupted (Living the Scientific Life).

Bacterial Discoloration of Ancient Art

Ever since the Da Vinci Code came out a couple of years ago, people have gotten really interested in ancient art.  I initially thought “ancient art” would be something more…I don’t know…ancient.  Like from the Greco-Roman Era.  Indeed, these scientists (Italian, of course) were referring to Medieval and Renaissance art. The point of the study was to determine a) if the “rosy discoloration” of the fresco “The Crypt of the Original Sin” in Italy was from bacteria and if it was, b) what species were the culprit.