Glass is one of the least reactive substances known to chemistry. It is the standard container material for almost all lab chemicals because it's so inert. But there are a couple of substances that have strong reactions with glass. Sodium hydroxide, aka solid drain cleaner or lye, can easily be stored in glass as a solid, but when molten, it reacts violently with glass and can actually dissolve it away! So, the next time you clog up your drains with broken glass beakers and flasks, rest assur...
I'm back with the third part to my laser weapon series (see part one and two), and I'll be explaining the function, application, and potential of semiconductor lasers, aka laser diodes.
Normal body temperature, normothermia or euthermia; is a range of temperature rather than a fixed number. That Range represents the temperature that could be measure form the body under normal conditions.
I've come across a few very stubborn Xbox consoles in my day. A previous Null Byte demonstrated how to fix the Xbox with just eight pennies and some electrical tape. But if you've got one of those hell-born boxes that just refuses to be fixed in any way, shape, or form, there is always one last ditch approach. I'm talking about the infamous "towel trick". It works over 90% of the time, from my personal experience. Though, please note: This is only a temporary fix.
I grew up eating for the most party delicious Mexican food, so naturally, once in a while I will cook some of that comfort food to remember the best days ever ( being raised by my lovely mom who I love to death). My mom is the best cook ever, and I would love to one day be as great as a cook as she is, but I know that will take lots of time and practice.
Got a sniffling nose, congested chest, and plenty o' coughs? We don't blame you. Winter is officially cold season, and with all the crowd-filled parties and shopping malls you'll be at, airborne disease risk is at an all-time high.
If you're hungry for steak tonight, this could be the easiest way to make on, while keeping that delicious restaurant-style quality. In France, it's called steak au poivre, and that means pepper steak, where cracked black peppercorns are pressed into the meat (in this case, beef tenderloins) which then cooks for only 2 minutes per side for medium-rare.
Pie on a stick has been good to us, so why not Pop Tarts? (Admit it, Pop Tarts are good- and these are more like yummy pastries without preservatives.) As a tribute to Bakerella, Brooke of Family Kitchen has created a recipe for the latest addition to the lollipop dessert craze.
In order to make a Homemade Deep Cleansing Mask, you will need the following: essential oils (geranium, lavender, and lemon oil), 6 tsp of warm water, and green clay.
Light up your keyboard with this illuminating tutorial from Make Magazine's Kipkay. To get started on this hack, which should take roughly a half an hour and cost no more than $5, you'll need the following: (1) a regular computer keyboard (most any model will do), (2) a screwdriver, (3) a drill, (4) telephone wire, (5) heat shrink tubing, and (6) two 5 mm high-brightness, white LEDs. For comprehensive, step-by-step instructions on building your own light-up keyboard, simply watch this hacker'...
Follow Mark Amey's step by step guide to looking after your corn snake as a baby and watch it eat a mouse whole. Corn snakes are placid, non-poisonous snakes and are good pets if you haven't owned a snake before. You will need a heat mad, thermometer, tank approximately 35cm x 18cm (14in x 7in), and a thermostat. This video will teach you about housing and bedding, handling, diet, cleaning, exercise and play, and health so that you are prepared to take care of your new exotic pet. Care for ba...
Installing a chandelier can bring a whole new style to your home’s design. Even though it might seem like a job only a professional can do, it really is quite simple. This DIY video illustrates just how easy it can be to install the chandelier yourself.
In this tutorial, we learn how to sterilize a sponge with Debbie Anderson. Over time, your sponge can collect a lot of different bacteria, so sterilizing it is very important. You will need: baking soda, vinegar, measuring cups, rubber gloves, and a microwave. First, place a stopper inside of your sink and fill it up half way with hot water and add in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar. Mix this together with your hands (with gloves on them) and then place the sponges inside. Rinse the spo...
Do you love fish tacos? If you do, you might want to try the shellfish version of the fish taco… the shrimp taco. It's shrimp inside a taco shell with some chipotle mayonnaise sauce. If you want to make this, watch the video recipe for all the details on this shrimp taco with chipotle mayo.
Amaze your audience with a trick that just won't quit! Make sure you have a newspaper, glue, scissors, and powder to perform the Cut and Restored Paper trick. You will need one newspaper, scissors, rubber cement and talcum powder. Sometimes we use materials that require adult supervision... like scissors so make sure you have friends and family around whenever you do magic tricks.
A well-designed terrarium is essential for the health of your reptiles. This how-to video demonstrates the process of making a backdrop for your pet's terrarium. Start out by lining the aquarium with strips of bark. Then use caulk to secure them into place, and allow to dry for 36 hours. Apply eco-dirt to the bark, and then shake and brush off the excess. Watch this video pet care tutorial and learn how to build a backdrop for a reptile terrarium. Build a backdrop for a reptile terrarium - Pa...
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install kitchen cabinets. Steps:
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to fix a leaking system system. Steps:
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to fix a bath sink stopper. Steps:
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to troubleshoot a leaky shower. Steps:
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to replace your exterior columns. Steps:
You can't have fried fish without the tartar sauce! For that matter, you can't have fried any-seafood without tartar sauce. So, if you want to whip up a batch of your favorite fried clams or shrimp, let Chef Keith Pooler shows you the recipe for a just-spicy-enough tartar sauce that pairs perfectly with anything fried - fish, shrimp or potatoes. Keith starts with a mayonnaise base, then adds chopped pickles, onions and Worcestershire. Sriracha chili sauce gives a little touch of heat that goe...
This is an amazing minestrone soup that is both extremely healthy and tastes delicious. It's high in fiber and is full of vitamins and minerals. Even though it's low in salt and so healthy it still leaves you feeling full and satisfied. You can make this soup anytime of the year winter, spring, summer, and fall or for lunch or dinner or even a snack. My wife and I created this recipe because she was pregnant and had to follow a low sodium diet. This recipe is not just for women who are pregna...
Winterizing your windows is a good idea. It helps you save energy and is cost effective. It can be pricey to hire a professional, but in this tutorial, you will learn how to insulate your windows yourself with a window insulation kit. Window insulation kits are easy and cheap alternatives to replacing your windows for the wintertime. So, in the colder months this year, try this method and stay a little bit warmer. You will be happy when you see your lower heating bills! Window Insulation Kit ...
When it comes to coffee, some people just like perfection. Most would agree that the best cup of coffee comes from home, after roasting your own green coffee beans. But not everybody has the time or money to have complete control over their coffee's flavor. Roasting via stovetop or oven produces mélange (not quite perfection), and home roasters can be pricey.
If bourbon is a man's drink, what better flavor to infuse it with than bacon? The combination tastes just as delicious as it sounds—a smokey, salty aftertaste lingering after each sip of deep, rich bourbon.
Nope, it’s not the McDonalds menu, but close enough. Jim Blackhurst has mapped 11 million deaths onto a 3-dimensional point cloud for video game Just Cause 2. The result is an amazing virtual heat map of a world where every white dot represents a death on impact: The millions of deaths formulate a detailed outline of major structures and roads in the game, visually mapping "extractions" at every square inch. In most traditional games, this would not be possible—players more often than not sta...
Homemade nourishing creams are easy and very simple to make. The ingredients are harmless and natural. It costs a fraction of what you would pay in the market. You also know exactly what goes into the product you make. Since homemade nourishing creams do not contains any preservatives, it's better to produce in small quantities and store it in the fridge to avoid waste.
A First Timer's Guide When some new guitarists break their first string they stash it in the closet and forget about it. Me, I put the sweaty axe back in its case and asked my parents to take me to the local music store. After a morning full of senseless racket emanating from my bedroom, my mom welcomed the drive.
WonderHowTo favorite NurdRage once again triggers the inner mad scientist in all of us (well, all of us WonderHowTo-ians at least). Below, watch what happens when steel wool- found in every common household Brillo Pad- is lit on fire.
I had three of the kids, one with her spouse, here and needed a Saturday Morning Breakfast. I got Doug to help me and we started by browning some sausage. Once that was done, we took the meat out of the pan and left the grease. The sausage was pretty lean and didn't render as much as I wanted to so I added some olive oil and we used that to fry some hash browns. I just seasoned the potatoes with salt and pepper. To the hash browns, we added Onion, Garlic and Green Chilis. Once the potatoes we...
George Yoshitake is one of the remaining living cameramen to have photographed the nuclear bomb. His documentation of the military detonation of hundreds of atom bombs from 1956 to 1962 reveals the truly chilling effect of the weapon. Below, images and explanatory captions via the New York Times. Don't miss the melting school bus. Creepy.
Theo Gray of Gray Matter explains the principle behind sending steel up in flames- as long as it's steel wool, of course. The process is beyond simple. Spend 2 bucks and 2 minutes: purchase a steel wool pad, hold in pliers, light with a match. But the question is, why is steel wool flammable, while other forms of metal are not? Explanation below the video. Theo says:
55-year-old Peruvian inventor, Eduardo Gold, was one of 26 winners of the "100 Ideas to Save the Planet" competition of 2009. His winning plan? To whitewash a mountain in order to restore it to a glacier.
Review: Get Him to the Greek So much puke
Mommy Knows posts a super easy recipe for making ice cream at home. You will need just two ingredients:
Tips If you are taking a relatively uncomplicated flight to post, it may be to your advantage to take your pet along as excess baggage. Ask the travel agent to provide you with a cost comparison of excess baggage versus air freight shipment.(Remember also to save your receipts for shipment as a legitimate "moving expense" for the IRS.)
The latest culinary trend? How about breaded and fried deer balls. That's right, you heard me. The Atlantic makes an interesting point about the political correctness of "nose-to-tail" eating:
We manage to eat everything from a pig's body, even if you aren't aware of it. For example, jello is made from the collagen of pig (sometimes cow) bones, hooves and connective tissue. But what about pig tails?