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It definitely was a good idea though (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 6 months ago by hydroptic@sopuli.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] bogdugg@lemmy.world 81 points 6 months ago

I don’t know what “fossilized algae” refers to

Looked it up:

Nobel found that when nitroglycerin was incorporated in an absorbent inert substance like kieselguhr (diatomaceous earth) it became safer and more convenient to handle, and this mixture he patented in 1867 as "dynamite".

Diatomaceous earth consists of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled microalgae.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel#Nobel_Prize

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 23 points 6 months ago

Ooh. Diatomaceous earth is also the best safest healthiest most humane method of fending off bed bugs.

[-] JudahBenHur@lemm.ee 29 points 6 months ago

I'm all for being humane but I would stab a bed bug with a pin and yell "die, fucker". Same goes for mosquitos, ticks and fleas.

Isn't diotemacious earth cancer causing if you breath it in?

[-] Microplasticbrain@lemm.ee 17 points 6 months ago

Most shit will cause lung cancer if you make it into a powder and inhale enough of it.

[-] Steve@startrek.website 4 points 6 months ago

Water. (Snow or frost)

[-] Microplasticbrain@lemm.ee 4 points 6 months ago

Pretty sure that if you got snow in your lungs you would get pneumonia, or perhaps frostbite in your lungs. if you get frost bite in your lungs repeatedly, just as any other repeated injury it can increase your risk of cancer in those cells that are repeatedly damaged.

[-] onion@feddit.de 3 points 6 months ago

Neat

[-] TwoCubed@feddit.de 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

In this case it's pretty much the same risk as inhaling asbestos dust. Fun fact, in the past, beer was filtered through asbestos, which was perfectly safe because asbestos is only dangerous when inhaled. Nowadays it's filtered through Kieselgur because its properties are pretty much identical to those of asbestos.

[-] sandalbucket@lemmy.world 12 points 6 months ago

Fortunately, diacontagious (or however you spell it) earth is not very “humane”. It cuts their wax layer as they crawl through it, leaving just enough of a gap that they can’t contain moisture, and they dehydrate / mummify to death.

This fun fact brought me much comfort while I lied in bed, slapping every itch and wincing at every breeze.