/oss/taxonomy/term/4713/all en /oss/article/medical-you-asked/what-are-icepacks-made <p>With summer weather arriving in a blaze of glory, your trusty ice packs might start getting more use. Whether for keeping food and drinks cool, icing injuries, or relieving the discomfort of a sunburn, ice packs have a multitude of uses at home, never mind elsewhere, where they’re vital for keeping medications, chemicals, and other spoilable items safe. But what’s inside that trusty, usually blue, often rectangular, object?</p> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean M.Sc. 9550 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/when-you-play-fire <p>There is an old saying that if you play with fire, eventually you will get burned. The same can be said for certain chemicals. Of course, I don’t mean “play” in the literal sense. What I mean is that when chemicals are produced, especially on a large scale, as many are, accidents can happen. However, risk can be minimized by adhering to good manufacturing practice and proper handling and storage of chemicals. Unfortunately, human error, negligence and greed can take a toll.</p> Fri, 25 Jun 2021 17:12:37 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8769 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/shocking-catastrophe-beirut <p>The Beirut explosion may be the worst ammonium nitrate disaster in history, but it is not the first such calamity. Let’s go back to the early morning of April 16, 1947 when spectators flooded to the docks in Texas City, Texas, drawn by the bright orange flames and the massive plume of black smoke that enveloped the S.S. Grandcamp, a French ship that had caught fire in the harbour. Then, as people marveled at the inferno, and quick-thinking vendors circulated with peanuts and other refreshments, there was a reverberating explosion.</p> Fri, 07 Aug 2020 16:40:11 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8358 at /oss