Tag: Fire
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đ„ Phlogiston vs SCNâ»: The Displaced Flame
Phlogiston (sometimes misrendered as âphlogostinâ) was the name given to a fire-like principle in early chemistry â a substance thought to be released during combustion. It was: It was later debunked and replaced by oxygen theory, but the metaphor lingers: phlogiston was the essence of fire, the spirit of combustion, the animating principle. Now, compare…
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Is Thiocyanate exclusive to tobacco smoke?
Thiocyanate (SCNâ») is NOT exclusive to tobacco smoke. Itâs a metabolite of cyanide, and cyanide itself is released when nitrogen- and sulfur-containing organic compounds are burned. That includes: Once cyanide is absorbed, the body detoxifies it via rhodanese enzymes, converting it into thiocyanate, which is then excreted in saliva, sweat, and urine. So yesâany combustion…
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Is Thiocyanate more important than nicotine when it comes to tobacco?
Thiocyanate Over Nicotine: Reframing the Smokerâs Paradox Through Ionic Terrain and Immunologic Logic Abstract The so-called smoker’s paradox – where smokers exhibit reduced severity in conditions like ulcerative colitis, Parkinsonâs, and even acute respiratory distress – has long baffled researchers. While nicotine is often invoked as the protective agent, emerging evidence suggests this is a…
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Chuckmuck: The Fanny Pack of the Silk Road
Picture this: It’s the 17th century, and you’re a traveler on the ancient trade routes stretching from the snow-capped Himalayas to the bustling ports of Japan. Hanging from your belt is a curious contraption – part fashion statement, part survival tool. This, my friends, is the chuckmuck, the ultimate accessory for the discerning nomad. The…
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The rich man and Lazarus aka the parable of Dives and Lazarus
The rich man and Lazarus (also called the parable of Dives and Lazarus) is a parable of Jesus from the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Speaking to his disciples and some Pharisees, Jesus tells of an unnamed rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. When both die, the rich man goes to Hell and implores Abraham to send Lazarus from his side in Heaven to warn the rich…
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Tiresias was a blind prophet who was transformed into a woman for seven years
In Greek mythology, Tiresias was a blind prophet of Apollo in Thebes, famous for clairvoyance and for being transformed into a woman for seven years. He was the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo. Tiresias participated fully in seven generations in Thebes, beginning as advisor to Cadmus himself. Mythology Eighteen allusions to mythic Tiresias, noted by Luc Brisson, fall into three groups: the first recounts Tiresias’ sex-change episode and later his…
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Baccharis is a genus of perennials and shrubs in the aster family (Asteraceae)
They are commonly known as baccharises but sometimes referred to as “brooms”, because many members have small thin leaves resembling the true brooms. They are not at all related to these however, but belong to an entirely different lineage of eudicots. B. halimifolia is commonly known as “groundsel bush”, however true groundsels are found in the genus Senecio. Baccharis, with over 500…
