The Atomic Cosmos Blog
The secrets of embalming human bodies
Embalming is the practice of preserving bodies after death in order to forestall decomposition. It has become the norm during the past century to embalm bodies with formaldehyde after death; however, despite formaldehyde being the most common fluid used in embalming bodies, it has significant consequences to both the mortician and environment.
Element of the day: Iridium
Iridium is a very rare element in Earth's crust that had a crucial role in confirming the theory that a large asteroid resulted in the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
Understanding the permanency of tattoos
In this day and age, most of us know someone who has several tattoos. This post explores the chemical components of the ink that makes up a tattoo and how our immune system is to thank (or blame) for their permanency.
Element of the day: Germanium
This week's “Element of the Day” is on germanium, an element that has significantly contributed to the development and advancement of technology since the 20th century.
Element of the day: Radium
In this new series called "Element of the Day," the history and application of various elements will be discussed. First up is radium, a historically important element with many dangerous side effects.
Breast cancer and the marvels of chemotherapy
Most of us have probably heard the word "chemotherapy" before, but what does this word really mean and how is it used to treat cancer? This post explores what chemotherapy is and its application in treating breast cancer, the second most common type of cancer in women.