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322 points atomroflbomber | 7 comments | | HN request time: 0.803s | source | bottom
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shireboy ◴[] No.36984694[source]
Going to have to start following this Derek Lowe guy. He also had a good balanced bit on room temp superconductor. Well done science reporting without the hyperbole.
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flobosg ◴[] No.36984741[source]
You’re in for a treat! Check out his “Things I Won't Work With” series.
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1. jaggederest ◴[] No.36984880[source]
One of the classics, his take on Chlorine Trifluoride (!!!!)

https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/sand-won-t-save-yo...

"It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water --- with which it reacts explosively."

- John D Clark, Ignition!: An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants

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2. wiredfool ◴[] No.36985726[source]
That’s a very interesting book if you have a passing knowledge of chemistry. Findable on the web in pdf form.
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3. WaffleIronMaker ◴[] No.36985782[source]
That's a good option, though I also enjoyed the audiobook of Ignition! on Audible.
4. r2_pilot ◴[] No.36986037[source]
Ignition! has also now been reprinted and is well worth the purchase and read.
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5. wiredfool ◴[] No.36986772{3}[source]
Cool, when I read it it was pdf or $300 used copies.
6. vanderZwan ◴[] No.36986843[source]
After which I recommend continuing with: https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/things-i-won-t-wor...
7. rtsil ◴[] No.36991645[source]
I have a rusty, high-school knowledge of chemistry and Ignition made me love it (well, the part of it that is prone to explosion and corrosion). And I confirm, it's available in paper form.