Dihydrogen Monoxide
This is a true happening:
A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the
Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair.
In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding
strict control or total elimination of the chemical
"dihydrogen monoxide."
And for plenty of good reasons, since it can:....
- cause excessive sweating and vomiting
- it is a major component in acid rain
- it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
- accidental inhalation can kill you
- it contributes to erosion
- it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
- it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients
He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.
Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew the
chemical was water. The title of his prize winning project was,
"How Gullible Are We?" He was attempting to show how
conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science.