[241] in Humor
Re: HUMOR? High Tech Ice Cream
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mark)
Wed May 4 01:05:18 1994
To: humor@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: Your message of Tue, 03 May 94 16:57:04 -0400.
Date: Wed, 04 May 94 01:03:20 EDT
From: Mark <hershey@MIT.EDU>
I'm sorry if you feel I'm missusing the mailing list with this message, but I
feel certain other safety precousions were omitted in the "High Tech Ice Cream"
mailing.
"Hey, let's be careful out there."
--Hill Street Blues
> "Two important safety points need to be made. First, always wear
> gloves and safety glasses when handling the liquid gas or any objects that
> have been exposed to its extreme cold. Second, if you are making the ice
> cream in front of guests, be sure they are out of range of any splashes.
> You should be able to obtain liquid nitrogen (or directions to a commercial
> source for it) from your local university's physics or chemistry department
> or from a hospital. The best way to transport liquid nitrogen is with a
> vacuum flask; inside a well-made one, it will last for up to a day."
A few more important safety tips:
Don't wear loose fitting gloves (or boots). If the nitrogen is spilled near
the open end of the glove (or boot), you could end up loosing a hand or foot.
Second, the container holding the liquid nitrogen should NOT BE TIGHTLY SEALED.
As the gas heats up, it expands; if's the gas is in a small container...BOOM!
So always make sure the cover is loose so gas can escape; and in case of an
emergency it will blow off, instead of say, metal shards of the container.
Third, because gas is escaping from the container, always make sure it's in a
well ventilated room, to prevent the gas from building up and affixiating
people. This is especially true when carrying it home in a car. Make sure you
OPEN ALL WINDOWS to allow ventilation.
Good luck and always remember, liquid nitrogen is cheap and replenishable, a
life isn't.
--Mark A. Herschberg
MIT '95
Physics & EE/CS
