Tetrahedrite

The CIA's world factbook may be able to help with some of those (particularly railways and freeways from memory) http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/gallery.html

Ahhhh...... the old XeF6 molecule.....a chemistry teacher's best friend

And just how far from a democracy the USA (and to a lesser extent other westernised countries) really are!!

Only if the electorate is simple minded!

Yeah...the chrysalids is good, but my favourite is stranger in a strange land, closely followed by hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.

I think people who believe in the paranormal should be given the same respect as those who believe in God. Not doing so would make most people enormous hypocrits!

It is mostly cellulose fibres from tree pulp

Yeah...come to think of it, that would make sense!

Depending on the time of the year, some varieties of pine tree eg radiata release a heap of pollen which coat the other trees. Another cause maybe the fungal spores that are commonly associated with pine forests. Either of these things may cause a person to sneeze, if they are susceptable.

Yes, it is. Although this happens to a certain degree in Australia, it is nowhere near as bad as the attrocious behaviour of the American political parties. I'm not sure about the British system (sorry, don't know where you are from) but I'm almost certain it's much more timid. Just lately the horrible right wing government we have in Australia has taken to making personal attacks on their opposition. This, however, is no surprise as our fearless leader John Howard is trying to turn us into a mini-America.

Out of all the topics I teach to first year students, redox reactions are what cause the most problems. I think the nomeclature is a big problem. Of particular concern to many students is that an oxidising agent is reduced and a reducing agent is oxidised! I even have to stop and think carefully sometimes!!

Although I think the above is BS, there is anacdotal evidence from quite a number of people in Australia that they have been "cured" of the symptoms of the moquito-borne virus Ross River Fever after recieving shocks from faulty equipment, electric fences, etc. It would certainly be an area of possible interest to research scientists.

Mine was "net" believe it or not. I believe this was because my auntie looked after me so much when I was a baby and her name was Lynette

Yes.... as above....I did not mean to imply the absolute value of the charge.

You are still reducing the oxidation number aka -3 is lower than -1

I have a feeling the term "reduced" comes from a lowering of the absolute charge of the atom/ion. For example when I reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ I am lowering the charge number. Just a suggestion, I don't know if this is correct

Maybe the tsunami was the first sign of the apocalypse!!!?!

Once again, highly unlikely. A tsunami moves like other waves in the ocean, it just has a very long wavelength and a slightly increased amplitude. It is also extremely short lived. In deep oceans you probably wouldn't even know the difference if a tsunami passed under your boat. It only has destructive power when it is funnelled into shallow water ie the coastline. I don't think it would have any effect on the ocean floor in the deep ocean (except at the epicentre of course!).

Highly unlikely.......the earthquake that caused the tsunami transfered its energy into the water, it didn't actually move very much water at all! By analogy, if I shout at someone 100m away, the sound waves move through the air and the person hears what I am shouting. This doesn't mean that the air molecules at the point were I'm standing actually reach the other person, only the energy reaches them in the form of a compression wave.

In addition to this, it is an interesting story as to how it was discovered mercury vapour was toxic. A long while back (probably in the 17th or 18th century) a ship left from spain with a load of mercury bound for South America. The mecury was to be used to process gold from the Spanish mines. The mercury was transported in big leather pouches which where hung in the hold of the ship. During the trip the crew started getting sick and dying one by one. Eventually all but two of the crew died, the two that lived were the two who spent the most time in the crows nest, away from the vapour. Because the leather was porous , the mercury was seeping through and the vapour was filling the hold of the ship.

Mercury liquid itself isn't all that toxic! The most toxic mercury compounds are mercury vapour and organic mercury complexes such as dimethyl mercury. So ironically, you are much more likely to get sick from having uncovered mercury near you as opposed to actually drinking it!

I got the best of both worlds, I get paid AU$50000 a year to study!! !!

It could be worse..... you could have to go to work!