Lapis Lazuli is a blue metamorphic rock that, since antiquity, has been highly prized for its beautiful appearance. It has been used as a gemstone, a sculpting material, and a pigment, and it continues to be popular today. Have you ever wondered if lapis lazuli can go in the water? In this article, we are…
Pyrite is a brass-yellow mineral having the chemical formula FeS2. It is the most abundant sulfide mineral, which occurs in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks worldwide. Its name is derived from the Greek term πῦρ (pyr) meaning “fire”. This is because it was historically used to ignite a fire by striking it against another hard…
Kyanite is a blue aluminosilicate mineral. Its name is derived from the Greek word κύανος (meaning “dark blue”), just like the name of the color cyan. Kyanite is used as a gemstone, in industrial applications, and by geologists. Have you ever wondered if kyanite can go in the water? In this article, we are going…
Serpentine is not a singular stone but a group of minerals that are primarily composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. These minerals are usually green in color, and they are used for a variety of purposes: gemstones, architectural material, asbestos, etc. Have you ever wondered if serpentine can go in the water? In this article, we…
Peridot is a yellowish-green variety of olivine and has the chemical formula of (Mg, Fe)2SiO4. It is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color, and it has been prized since antiquity for its beautiful appearance. Have you ever wondered if Peridot can go in the water? In this article, we are…
The food industry needs help with food waste. When food waste decomposes in landfills, it emits methane. It’s a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. According to Phys.org, methane is 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide. A study in the United States found that restaurants alone throw away about 11 million tons…
There’s no denying that the effects of climate change are more apparent these days. As a result, more and more people are becoming environmentally aware and, thus, shifting to eco-friendlier practices. This consciousness carries over to people’s transportation habits. How people choose to get from point A to point B can have significant implications for…
Oil field accidents can have severe consequences, posing risks to human lives, the environment, and surrounding communities. In the US state of Wyoming, which is known for its significant oil and gas production, the occurrence of such accidents can be particularly concerning. These accidents can result from a variety of factors, including equipment failure, inadequate…
Sulfur is a component that many people have encountered in various disinfectants. Its primary function is to produce sulfuric acid used in pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers. In the past, sulfur was famous for producing match heads for safety matches, though most manufacturers no longer do. Is sulfur flammable based on its most recent use? In…
Most people who work in mining, are stone cutters or live in sandy areas have heard about silicosis. It is a lung condition brought on by breathing in silicon compounds. Yet silicon also has advantages. Among many other industrial uses, manufacturing steel is one of them. Most people, however, are curious about the magnetic properties…
Copper (Cu) is a chemical element with the atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal that has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Copper is one of the oldest metals known to man, with its uses dating back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians & Greeks. Today, copper is widely used in…
Rust causes many companies and industries to spend money on repairs for metallic structures. Some bridges, like the Morandi Bridge, have collapsed, and rust has rendered vehicles, ships, and aeroplanes obsolete. Most metals lose some of their properties when they rust. Is rust magnetic, then? This article explores whether magnets attract rust, which magnetic metals…
Hematite is a common iron oxide compound, having the formula Fe2O3. It is widely found in rocks and soils, occurring in various colors from black to reddish-brown. There are different varieties of hematite, such as kidney ore, martite, iron rose, and specularite. Have you ever wondered if hematite is magnetic? In this article, we are…
For most living things to survive, blood is necessary. But there is a limit to what blood can achieve for something so valuable. Blood serves various purposes in the body because of its numerous components. Does blood contain an electrical charge, though? Hence, does blood conduct electricity? We’ll discuss the conductivity of blood, determine whether…
Spray foam is a type of insulation material that is commonly used in homes and buildings. It is made up of two chemical products, isocyanate and polyol resin, which react together and expand up to 30-60 times their liquid volume after being sprayed. Besides thermal heating, this expansion property makes spray foam a useful packaging material…