Alchemical Mystery solved
After 5 centuries, the scientists have solved the mystery of the crucibles from Hesse, Germany. These are very resistant to extreme temperatures pots, which were imported by many research laboratories in Spain, Portugal, the UK and even colonial America. People tried to reproduce the crucibles, but they couldn’t, because they didn’t know the secret ingredient the alchemists used.
The University College London Institute of Archeology and the Cardiff University have discovered it, after X-ray analysis. Dr Torres explains: “Our analysis of 50 Hessian and non-Hessian crucibles revealed that the secret component in their manufacture is an aluminium silicate known as mullite.”
This material has only been officially known in the 20th century, but hessian alchemists had been already taking advantage of it for centuries.
Squabble Preventer in Toilet
If you live with your girlfriend or wife, you know the never-ending story : why did you leave the toilet seat UP during the night?! She just can’t understand that you were half asleep, you didn’t turn on the light, you hurried to get back in the warm bed…But how can you prevent the squabble in the morning?
Using LavNav - a nightlight placed on your toilet seat, which turns on when you approach in the dark, and turns off when you leave. It also uses green/red lights to discretely show the position of the seat. Handy, right?
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November 28, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Katja
I think I’d be a bit unnerved to see a glowing green light coming out of my loo in the middle of the night! My solution to the problem is always to put both the seat and the lid down and to bully everyone else to do the same. It’s better for Feng Shui (hoho) and just looks so much better when you walk into the room.