The sixtieth issue of the “new” Alchemist is now online over on Sciencebase partner site ChemWeb.com. As you might expect having reached this tender age, we’ve put on a little weight, as of this issue there will be more chemistry matters.
In this week’s issue, new symbolism in the world of ionizing radiation, a rubber band theory that requires no stretch of the imagination to work, and an atomic approach to murder. Also in this week’s issue, new catalysts could make use of wasted natural gas that is simply vented and flared at oil wells and archaeological evidence that Christopher Columbus’ fellow travelers struggled to find enough silver. Finally, crumpling hydrogels could give chemists a taste for plastic origami. Also in this issue our new awards/announcements section – this week fueling fuel cell research to the tune of $1.5million.
Check out the ChemWeb Alchemist every fortnight.
Chemistry aside though, what do Sciencebase readers think of the new radiation sign the IAEA wants to make standard? To me it looks far more cluttered and confusing than the original trefoil. the IAEA says that lots of people don’t know what the trefoil represents, but surely if you come across a huge lead box with a big red triangle on it and a symbol that looks like something out of a science fiction movie you’re not going to break it open to see what’s inside…or maybe some people would. The IAEA says there are too many needless deaths and serious injuries from accidental exposure to large radioactive sources and that tests have shown that the meaning of this new symbol for category 1, 2, and 3 radiation sources is far more obvious than the old trefoil. It will mean a whole new redesign for those movie sets though.