The Off Topic Topic

[Richard Hakluyt]

A related random fact; rats can synthesise vitamin C in their own bodies, an advantage that our ancestors lost somewhere along the way.

[Maximus]

Random fact I somehow never thought about before: mammals are incapable of making green pigment for their skin or fur. The only mammals able to use green are some sloths, but they don't make green pigment - they use symbiotic algae living in their fur to make them look green.

Other animals can be green, but not mammals.

A single species of butterfly is the only animal capable of producing blue pigment.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Random fact I somehow never thought about before: mammals are incapable of making green pigment for their skin or fur. The only mammals able to use green are some sloths, but they don't make green pigment - they use symbiotic algae living in their fur to make them look green.

Other animals can be green, but not mammals.

A single species of butterfly is the only animal capable of producing blue pigment.

I always understood that the blue colour was generated by diffraction effects....googles......but not in the case of the genus Nessaea which uses pigment, cool 

[The Brain]

Odd. You would think being green would be an evolutionary advantage.

It would be - better disguise.

Apparently this is an evolutionary holdover from mammalian origins as mostly night dwelling rodent-like animals.

Origins?

[The Larch]

What the fuck is wrong with people...

Gender reveal party using 80 pounds of explosives sets off earthquake reports
New Hampshire man turns himself in to police after detonating explosives as part of a gender reveal party held in a quarry

A New Hampshire family's gender reveal party was such a blast that it set off reports of an earthquake, and could be heard from across the state line, police said.

Police in Kingston, a town not far from the Massachusetts border, received reports of a loud explosion Tuesday evening. They responded to Torromeo quarry where they found people who acknowledged holding a gender reveal party with explosives.

The source of the blast was 80 pounds (36 kilograms) of Tannerite, police said. The family thought the quarry would be the safest spot to light the explosive, which is typically sold over the counter as a target for firearms practice, police said.

Nearby residents said the blast rocked their homes and some reported property damage, NBC 10 Boston reported.

Also, explosives can be sold over the counter? 

[Josquius]

The first two words say enough.

And over the counter explosives. Jesus.

[Sheilbh]

I really think my perception of sex reveal parties are entirely shaped by the fact the only time we hear about them in the UK is when they're the cause of a catastrophic accident

Like the one that caused a small wildfire and this.

[garbon]

I really think my perception of sex reveal parties are entirely shaped by the fact the only time we hear about them in the UK is when they're the cause of a catastrophic accident

Like the one that caused a small wildfire and this.

Hey gotta get those gender stereotypes embedded early.

[Valmy]

What is the gender that causes explosions and fires? 

[Razgovory]

The first two words say enough.

And over the counter explosives. Jesus.

It's not just over-the-counter explosives.  This is stuff you can order on line and have delivered to your home.

[Savonarola]

On the Palermo Stone (Royal Annals of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt) there are events recorded that are so momentous that the entire year will be named after them; including the most excellently named "Year of Smiting Troglodytes."  I was reminded of that this morning when I discovered that 2021 is the European Year of Rail.  The years just aren't what they used to be.   

[Valmy]

Glad to see those Troglodytes got what was coming to them.

[Malthus]

I really think my perception of sex reveal parties are entirely shaped by the fact the only time we hear about them in the UK is when they're the cause of a catastrophic accident

Like the one that caused a small wildfire and this.

Hey gotta get those gender stereotypes embedded early.

Imbedded in bodies, with shrapnel, apparently.

[merithyn]

What is the gender that causes explosions and fires? 

You gotta' ask?

[Josquius]

The first two words say enough.

And over the counter explosives. Jesus.

It's not just over-the-counter explosives.  This is stuff you can order on line and have delivered to your home.

What an age to be a terrorist.