Sr, Ba, Ra

[sarren]

Today is easy-peasy!

Sr - Strontium Did this one on day one, before I realised that I should learn them in column order. A scientist talks earnestly about making the World's Best Clocks. It amused me.

Ba - Barium Makes people think about enemas because barium sulphate is used as an x-ray contrast medium. Used as a "getter" in high vacuum components which, I have learnt, means it absorbs moisture and other contaminents that work their way through the container. A conspiracy theorist* reads something he "found on the internet" about how barium etc causes neurological diseases. He reads big words! I only watched two minutes out of ten, but I'm betting it's the government's fault. The random use of capitalisation in the title does not add credibility.

Ra - Radium Used to make luminous clock/watch faces until too many factory hands died. Under that link there's a piccie of a "scary object" about an inch in diametre that makes the guy's geiger counter scream at him. He thinks he may not keep it - but hand it into the "local radiation safety office". I'm boggling that he has a local radiation safety office. Do we have one? Is this a scary little world I was unaware of??? In fact, lots of interesting stuff under that link. Funny how danger is intriguing. Geiger counter meets watch


I feel free to mock conspiracy theorists as I am one.

Comments

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

You didn't know that bardiegrub used to be a radiation safety officer? She can tell you all about it.