Explosives are reactive substances that contain amounts of potential energy that if released under certain conditions can make things go KABOOM! It is interesting to note that there are explosive ingredients contained in everyday items although they are found in small and safe amounts. However, the use of large amounts of these chemicals can be catastrophic. There have been several reports of cases where people use everyday products to make explosives that have been quite destructive. Let’s explore 5 of these explosive ingredients.

1. Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical used in fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides. It is relatively safe if it is stored properly and remains uncontaminated. If large amounts of this chemical is exposed to intense heat, it can become violently explosive. Explosions can be triggered if ammonium nitrate is stored close to fuel in poorly ventilated rooms. In 1995, farm fertilizer packed on a truck was used in a terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, killing many people. Today, countries have laws regulating the sale of ammonium nitrate.

2. Butane

Butane is a chemical found in products such as aerosol sprays, cigarette lighters and barbecue grills. It is produced by fractional distillation of fossil fuel. Liquefied petroleum gas is a mixture of butane and petroleum and is used in heating appliances. Butane is highly flammable and can become explosive if stored in poorly ventilated rooms, if there are leaks and if it is ignited by flames or sparks. In 2018, a butane hash oil lab exploded in Michigan causing injuries and significant damage to property.

3. Picric Acid

Picric acid is an organic compound used in electric batteries, matches and to manufacture colored glass and dyes. Picric acid also has antiseptic and astringent properties and is used in some anesthetic and burn ointments. Laboratories also use it to test for creatinine. Picric acid is a very combustible material and during World War I, it was used extensively in bombs and grenades. It is a yellow mass of moist crystals but when dry, the crystals become unstable and are sensitive to shock, friction and heat and can create a powerful explosion. As such, it must always be kept wet with a minimum of 10% water.

4. Nitrocellulose

Nitrocellulose is a compound which is produced by treating common cellulose with nitric acid. This compound is found in propellants, paint, nail polish, plastic, leather finishings, vanish and resins. Nitrocellulose is also used in manufacturing explosives. If the content of nitrogen in nitrocellulose is greater than 12.6%, it is considered to be explosive. In 2015, there was a devastating explosion in a chemical factory in Tianjin, China which was a result of nitrocellulose being ignited. This caused the death of a few hundred people and extensive damage to property.

5. Nitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin is a nitrate vasodilator drug used in medicine to treat hypertension, chest pain and heart failure. This drug, which is available in spray, tablet and intravenous forms, helps widen blood vessels in the body. In spite of being so useful, it is a powerful explosive which is used in most forms of dynamite and is combined with nitrocellulose in propellants for rockets and missiles. Ascanio Sobrero was the first to produce nitroglycerin in 1846 making this explosive even stronger than black powder. Alfred Nobel manufactured it on a large scale mainly for the purpose of mining.

The term fashion trends can be broadly used as a popular style of self expression that is embraced at a particular time and place. This can mean trends in clothing, accessories, footwear and make-up to name a few. Fashion trends evolve over time and I’m sure that while looking at old photos of your parents or grandparents you’ve observed that what they wore then were quite different to what is worn today, although some trends have resurfaced to some extent. There are some fashion trends of the past however, that many view as ridiculous and think that they should remain in the past and not make a comeback. Here are 5 of these fashion trends.

1. Hobble Skirts

The hobble skirt became popular in the early 1900s and although there were many designers who claimed that they should be credited for inventing the hobble skirt, in 1908, French designer, Paul Poiret, said that his design had “shackled the legs.” Hobble skirts were ankle-length skirts which were so narrow at the hem that they restricted movement greatly and allowed wearers to take short strides. Only women who were privileged wore them because these skirts were certainly not functional for the busy, working woman.

2. Clothing Made From Flour Sacks/Bags

The fashion trend of sewing flour bags into ladies’ clothing showed that housewives of that time were resourceful. During the Great Recession, rural families were forced to be frugal. Nothing went to waste including flour bags which were used to make dresses, towels and household furnishings. The bag manufacturers responded to this by adding color and lovely designs to the bags. By the late 1930s, this trend became quite popular. There were national sewing competitions which featured dresses made from flour sacks.

3. Bullet Bras

The bizarre bullet bra was a creation which emerged in the 1940s. The intention behind these sharply pointed, conical shaped bras was to accentuate a woman’s figure and to ensure that women stood upright at all times. It began to lose its popularity in the late 1950s when soft cup bras which gave a more natural silhouette were introduced. Though Madonna brought back this bra during the Blonde Ambition tour in 1990, this trend didn’t make a comeback. For people who love this vintage look, there are still a few bullet bra makers out there.

4. Crinolines

This trend took flight in the mid 19th century and is one that you may have seen in movies set in that time. Crinolines were stiff structured petticoats used to provide support to large skirts and give a bell shape. Before this, women wore multiple layers of petticoats which were heavy and unhygienic. Wearing crinolines was dangerous as the large dresses got caught in passing carriages and machinery which crushed the wearers. The dresses also ignited when women stood too close to fireplaces or the skirts swept over coal or flames.

5. Zibellino

Zibellino, also called flea-fur or fur tippet, was a fashion accessory worn by women of the late 15th century. This was the pelt of a marten, a weasel-like mammal, which was worn around the neck, hanging at the waist or held in the hand. The heads which were still attached were accessorized with gold and precious jewels. This was used by those in the upper echelons of society such as high-ranking noble and royalty. The faux version was later created in the 16th century and replaced the use of actual animals.

Although physicians are taught to use all their senses upon entering a room to diagnose patients, they rely heavily on laboratory findings from medical tests. Physicians also rely on equipment and instruments like the stethoscope to examine patients. One would not believe that smell is one of the senses that can be used in diagnosing diseases and disorders. There are some scents that are emitted by certain diseases. Let’s look at 5 of these diseases.

1. Typhoid Fever

In 1976, a medical journal article explained that patients who suffer from typhoid fever discharge a smell like freshly baked bread. While the scent of freshly baked bread may be satisfying, the disease is pretty terrifying. Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi. It may be mild or severe, but its symptoms include high fever, abdominal pain, weakness, constipation and a rose-coloured skin rash. Typhoid fever is not very common but it occurs in areas which are unhygienic. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, although some strains are more resistant today.

2. Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes. When the body does not produce sufficient amounts of insulin, the body cannot use glucose to create energy which it needs. Instead, fat is broken down to get energy and ketones are produced in the process. Acetone is the main ketone. The body then enters a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. In this condition, the ketone levels rise to unsafe levels. The acetone in the body, which is a similar component found in nail polish, has a fruity smell that is easy to detect. Diabetic ketoacidosis can be diagnosed by this smell on the patient’s breath.

3. Maple Syrup Urine Disease

A person who suffers from maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), experiences a sweet smell of maple syrup every time he or she urinates. This disease is a metabolic disorder that affects the process in which the patient breaks down certain amino acids. This means that the amino acids are excreted from the body through the urine which causes a distinct smell. Infants who are affected by this disease, may look normal and healthy at birth and can later develop life threatening symptoms. Sweet smelling urine is an early sign of maple syrup urine disease. There is no cure but it can be controlled.

4. Arsenic Poisoning

Arsenic is a highly toxic chemical which has been used for centuries to manufacture a large number of products ranging from pesticides to bullets. People who live in remote villages can get in contact with this chemical through contaminated ground water. Arsenic poisoning blocks enzymes which the body requires to create energy. Some of the symptoms of arsenic toxicity are vomiting, abdominal pain, encephalopathy, bloody diarrhea and eventually death. A garlic odor which emanates from the body of a victim is a symptom of arsenic toxicity.

5. Bacterial Infections

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is a bacterium which may cause many types of infections in humans. It is a common infection in persons suffering from diabetes, cystic fibrosis, burn patients and persons using drugs. If not treated with urgency, it can become very dangerous. It is rated an opportunistic bacteria because it relies on pre-existing diseases or conditions to occur. Although it can be identified in laboratory tests, it is obvious by a grape-like odor from the patient. Some people also describe the odor as being similar to a tortilla.