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The Foggy Future of Refrigerants

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Freon tanks await recycling. Image courtesy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Stable, nontoxic refrigerants changed the world, transforming food storage, expanding Sun Belt populations, even helping early movie theaters succeed. But they also wrecked the ozone layer — Earth’s shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Today, as stockpiles dwindle — and prices rise — due to phase-outs set by the Montreal Protocols 30 years ago,  the future of Freon and its successors remains in doubt.

Read/listen to my full story at KJZZ’s Arizona Science Desk:
As Stockpiles Dwindle, Freon Prices Rise

Chemistry, Consumer, How To, Physics, Science

My Coke runneth over

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Diet Coke and Mentos geyser.
Photo by Michael Murphy.

They say you can’t un-break what’s broken, un-see what you’ve seen or put the toothpaste back in the tube. But can you un-shake a can of soda? More to the point, does tapping the top, slapping the sides or flipping the can end-over-end make a difference?

I’ll tell you what I found out, but some of you might not like the answer ….

Does Tapping a Soda Can Prevent it from Foaming Over?