Drrubidium

DrRubidium is an analytical chemist that spends her days finding needles in needlestacks. Also a science communicator, she focuses on the the science behind everyday stuff and pop culture.
  • Science

    The Adventures of Wintergreen Bottoms

    Naked and Famous Denim’s new sratch-n-sniff jeans smell minty fresh, stay clean thanks to Teflon®, and could make designer Brandon Svarc a mint.  But… there is no mint in these bottoms.  These dungarees owe their scent to wintergreen. Though often grouped with the plants peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is not a member of the Methna crew (genus).  Wintergreen may not be a mint,…

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  • Feminism

    Woman turns down non-paying gig, name calling ensues

    This post originally appeared at JAYFK. Scientist and science communicator @DNLee5 was contacted by Ofek, Blog Editor of biology-online.org regarding a non-paying guest blogging spot.  Deciding she didn’t wish to work for free, @DNLee5 informed Ofek that she was declining his offer.  Ofek responded…           Oh, poor biology-online.org editor! Ofek clearly doesn’t own – of have access to – a dictionary.…

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  • Science

    Cockring cleaner or clandestine drug?

    NOTE: this post can now be found at Skepchick’s Tumblr.

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  • Skepticism

    Let’s write a new Samsung Ad!

    Redditors don’t like this Samsung ad: I don’t like it. It had CNET asking ‘Is this the worst as Samsung’s ever made?‘ and Mashable wondering ‘Why Is This Samsung Ad So Terrible?‘.  Gawker says ‘This Insane Samsung Ad Is Insane for a Reason That Samsung Wants Hidden‘ and Fast Company claims (loudly) ‘THIS SAMSUNG PROMO VIDEO WAS SO BAD, IT WAS PULLED A DAY AFTER…

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  • Science

    Monistat for your mane?

    YouTube testimonials touting Monistat as a head hair growth promoter have attracted the attention of local news, HuffPost, and MadamNoire.  Could the results being seen by some Monistat-for-mane devotees be real? Yes – if a fungal infection is limiting their locks. Monistat’s anti-fungal activity is due to miconazole nitrate (hereafter ‘miconazole’).  This chemical inhibits the ability of many pathogenic fungi to make ergosterol – a chemical needed for…

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  • Science

    Use coconut oil for curry, not sunscreen

    Summer often means more outdoor fun time and more time spent slathering on sunscreen to block ultraviolet (UV) light of various wavelengths.  Many of us pick a sunscreen  based of its sun protection factor (SPF), which reveals a product’s ability to block UVB, a shorter wavelength UV most often linked to skin cancer.  The longer wavelength UVA wreaks its own kind of havoc and “…also…

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