20 Weird Science Facts That You Might Just Need One Day
10. DNA Is Flame Retardant
Italian researchers sure know how to throw a wild party, because it is the only possible explanation for how they discovered that DNA is flame retardant.
By coating cotton in DNA extracted from herring sperm then trying to set it on fire, they discovered that it wouldn't light. This is because, when heated, DNA produces phosphoric acid, which replaces water in cotton fibers with a flame-retarding residue, then the bases, containing nitrogen, produce ammonia, preventing combustion.
When you might need to know this:
If you are ever on fire, this might be a comfort to you.
9. A Rubber Tyre Is Actually One Giant Molecule
When we think of molecules, we tend to think of the microscopic arrangements that make up H2O or whatever, but molecules, which are just atoms bound together, can be made big enough to hold in your hand.
The process that goes into making the rubber for tyres, vulcanization, binds together long polymer chains and short strands of sulfur atoms which, technically, turns them into one giant molecule. For this reason, there is nothing in nature that can break them down, and they can't be melted down and turned into something else, making them a headache for landfills.
When you might need to know this:
When arguing with the local garbage dump as to why they won't take your old tyres.