29 Dec 2008 @ 8:40 AM 

When I was 8 years old, I had two chemistry sets.  I went through all sorts of experiments, producing acids that I used to clean/destroy small objects, color-changing things, etc. I’ve seen several times over the past few years stories about the new chemistry sets, which apparently don’t contain any chemicals more interesting than tannic acid (tea extract). We don’t want our young people to grow up curious about science, obviously.

And then there is the curious case of Lewis Casey, who was arrested on suspicion of making meth in his garage. When it was proven rather easily that his chemistry lab was merely a chemistry lab (he’s a college chemistry major), the Canadian government charged him with making bombs instead. Have you ever heard the term “chilling effect” before?

Casey is no longer allowed to engage in chemistry experiments except under supervision in school labs. 

That’s insane.

Posted By: Gary
Last Edit: 29 Dec 2008 @ 08:44 AM

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Categories: Civil Liberties, Geek, Science


 

Responses to this post » (2 Total)

 
  1. Rosanne says:

    I poked around, using your links as a launch point, and found an interesting PBS/Wired documentary video. I embedded it in my MySpace page.

    PBS video

  2. Gary says:

    That Porter chemistry set, in that giant orange metal box? Yeah, I had one of those. 🙂

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