/oss/taxonomy/term/341/all en /oss/article/health/squeezing-science-out-squishies <p>Originally squeezing balls made of polyurethane foam was supposed to counter stress. Feeling anxious? For relief, just compress a “stress ball” and then watch it slowly expand back to its original size. At least so went the ads. But now for some parents, squeezing polyurethane foam is creating stress. Their kids are collecting and squeezing “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Rising-Jumbo-SQUISHIES-Pack/dp/B079NCBCP4">squishies</a>,” the latest and hottest toy.</p> Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:02:53 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7546 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/rock-tumbler-safety <p><strong>My son is taking chemistry in school and he tells me he's grinding rocks but I've yet to see any rocks. Does this possess a danger?</strong> </p> <p>This should be a harmless activity in that all that is happening is an automatic way to grind down minerals that often result in polished and sometime quite beautiful stones.  Be clear that some tumblers are "on" for weeks in order to polish the stones so electricity costs are a mild consideration.</p> Tue, 21 May 2013 15:30:48 +0000 David Harpp PhD 1940 at /oss /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/toys-and-toxins <p>Buying toys used to be easy. You went into a toy store, looked around and found something you liked. What mattered was whether the rubber ducky had an appealing look and feel or whether the doll had flexible joints. You didn’t think about the kind of plastic that was used to make the toy or whether it contained plasticizers. Nor did you wonder about the heavy metals such as lead, mercury or chromium that might lurk in the paint. Today, however, buying a toy has become a scientific puzzle. Is it made of polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. Is it plasticized or not?</p> Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:58:24 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 1571 at /oss