HGG Community Forums

I wouldn't even be posting this if I were a little more sober, but here's a few of the questions and answers I've gotten:

Q: In the original Star Trek, why was Chekov's hairstyle so bad in some episodes?

A: Chekov's hairstyle in some episodes of the original Star Trek series is often described as "bad" or "ridiculous," with his hair styled in a large, exaggerated pompadour. The reason for this hairstyle is not clear, but it is likely a product of the fashion trends of the time.

The 1960s, when the original Star Trek series was produced, was a time of significant cultural change, particularly in terms of fashion and hairstyles. The "mod" look, characterized by bold, bright colors, short skirts, and geometric patterns, was popular, as were big hairdos with lots of volume and hairspray.

It's possible that Chekov's hairstyle was an attempt to stay in step with these trends, or it could simply have been a personal choice of actor Walter Koenig, who played Chekov. Regardless of the reason, the hairstyle has become something of a cultural touchstone, instantly recognizable to Star Trek fans and often referenced in popular culture.

Q: I once mixed Sulmet and copper sulfate together in water and the resulting mixture turned brown and settled to the bottom of the water. What happened?

A: Mixing Sulmet and copper sulfate together in water can result in the formation of a precipitate, which is a solid substance that settles at the bottom of the solution. The brown color that you observed is likely due to the formation of a copper sulfide precipitate.

When copper sulfate (CuSO4) is mixed with Sulmet (sulfamethazine), the sulfur in the Sulmet reacts with the copper in the copper sulfate to form copper sulfide (CuS), which is insoluble in water. The copper sulfide precipitates out of the solution and settles at the bottom of the container, forming the brown sediment that you observed.

It's important to note that mixing chemicals together can be dangerous and should only be done by individuals who are trained and experienced in handling chemicals safely. Improper handling or mixing of chemicals can result in harmful reactions, including the release of toxic gases, fires, or explosions.

Q: I heard once that bananas are slightly radioactive. Is that true?

A: Yes, it is true that bananas are slightly radioactive. Bananas, like many other fruits, contain small amounts of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes, particularly potassium-40 (K-40).

Potassium is an essential nutrient for the human body, and bananas are a particularly rich source of potassium. However, a small percentage of the potassium in bananas is in the form of K-40, which is a radioactive isotope. This means that bananas emit small amounts of radiation, but the levels are so low that they are not considered to be harmful to human health.

In fact, the radiation exposure from eating a banana is very small compared to other sources of radiation that we encounter in daily life, such as natural background radiation from the Earth's crust or medical imaging procedures like X-rays.

So while bananas are indeed slightly radioactive, the amount of radiation they emit is not a cause for concern, and they remain a nutritious and healthy food to include in your diet.