Dr. Joe & What You Didn't Know Quotes

“find the prospect of ice cream colored with bug juice appetizing, but it is an effective and safe dye. And, of course, it's all natural.”
― Joe Schwarcz, Dr. Joe & What You Didn't Know: 177 Fascinating Questions & Answers about the Chemistry of Everyday Life

“Copper sulfate. Algae often invade swimming pools, turning the water greenish and cloudy. By adding a very small amount of copper sulfate to pool water, we can clarify it and make the pool more inviting. There is another benefit: by using copper sulfate, we reduce the amount of chlorine or bromine needed to disinfect the pool. Copper sulfate at such dilutions is an extremely safe substance, and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada has given it a clean bill of health.”
― Joe Schwarcz, Dr. Joe & What You Didn't Know: 177 Fascinating Questions & Answers about the Chemistry of Everyday Life

“Believe it or not, there is such a thing as water poisoning. And it can be lethal. If body fluids become too diluted, then sodium concentrations in the blood drop dramatically. Sodium is an essential mineral in the body, and it plays a critical role in the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and the muscles. Our bodies regulate the concentration of sodium in our blood by moving water in and out of the blood. If you have a high sodium concentration, then water moves from your cells into your blood, increasing your blood pressure. As water moves from your brain cells into your blood, your brain actually shrinks, and you may experience confusion and seizures. If your sodium concentration is low, then the reverse happens: water moves out of your blood and into your cells. This can be disastrous to your brain, since, as your cells absorb water, your brain swells. This, in turn, can lead to lethargy, loss of consciousness, and even death.”
― Joe Schwarcz, Dr. Joe & What You Didn't Know: 177 Fascinating Questions & Answers about the Chemistry of Everyday Life