ScienceIQ.com

Light Fantastic

On the next hot summer day, imagine what would happen if the Sun suddenly became one million times brighter. Ice cream would quickly melt, sunscreen lotion wouldn't work very well, and that's just the beginning. Thankfully, our Sun doesn't misbehave this way. Yet, in early 2002, we witnessed strange behavior by a star in the dim winter ...

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LightFantastic
Geology

There's Oil Down There

Ever wonder what oil looks like underground, down deep, hundreds or thousands of feet below the surface, buried under millions of tons of rock and dirt? If you could look down an oil well and see oil ... Continue reading

TheresOilDownThere
Biology

The Blood-brain Barrier

In the human brain, there are approximately 400-425 miles of capillaries. Because the brain is basically a small neurochemistry factory, which makes our behavior a function of its interior chemical ... Continue reading

BloodBrain
Biology

Where Do Frogs Go In The Winter?

Mammals are endotherms, meaning they maintain a constant body temperature no matter what the environmental conditions are. For example, humans, dogs and cats are mammals. When the weather gets cold, ... Continue reading

WhereDoFrogsGoInTheWinter
Biology

What are Bacillariophyta?

Bacillariophyta are diatoms. All diatoms are single-celled organisms. They are microscopic, glassy organisms that photosynthesize for food, like plants. Diatoms live in the sediments of freshwater, ... Continue reading

WhatareBacillariophyta

Potassium Iodide To The Rescue

PotassiumIodideSince the end of the Cold War, the focus of the nuclear threat has changed from hostile countries to terrorist cells. What should we do if terrorists set off a dirty bomb in a populated area, or sabotage a nuclear power plant? Some say the first thing we should do is grab a bottle of potassium iodide (KI). But that depends. First, about the KI.

Iodine is an essential part of a healthy diet. It is used by the thyroid gland to create hormones that regulate body functions. Without it, we leave ourselves open to a host of physical ailments. The thyroid takes in iodine on an as-needed basis. Radioactive isotopes of iodine are produced during certain nuclear reactions. And therein lies the problem; our bodies cannot tell the difference between healthy iodine and the deadly radioactive iodine. If our thyroid absorbs radioactive iodine, we are at a much higher risk of developing thyroid cancer and other diseases. To prevent this from happening, either immediately before exposure to radioactive iodine, or shortly thereafter, we can saturate our thyroid gland with KI. Since the thyroid can only hold so much, there will be no room for any radioactive iodine.

Now the 'that depends' part. Radioactive iodine unfortunately is only one type of radiation that may be produced in a nuclear accident or terrorist attack. Gulping down KI will have absolutely no effect on other types of radiation that pass through and destroy healthy cells. But, if it is radioactive iodine, potassium iodide may just save your life.