#high temperature decomposition

[cylexplastics]

Is PTFE lined hose safe?

In chemical, food processing, medical and many industrial fields, the safety and reliability of the piping system are crucial. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) lined hose is widely used in these fields due to its excellent corrosion resistance and chemical stability. However, the safety of PTFE lined hose, especially its long-term safety and potential impact on the environment, has always been the…

[windvexer]

Understand PYROLISYS and stop your house from burning down!!

Pyrolisis: the chemical change that occurs in wood and other materials, lowering the material combustion point in response to repeated heating at even relatively low temperatures such as around 200F.

aka,

the chemical or thermal decomposition of a material when it is exposed to heat

THIS MEANS that if you repeatedly heat something up to pretty high temperatures - like, stuff that's stored near offering candles that repeatedly get hot to the touch -

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THOSE OBJECTS DEGRADES, AND LOWERS THE COMBUSTION POINT.

The chemical change of pyrolysis lowers the temperature at which a substance will catch fire. What may be surprising is that wood exposed to temperatures as low as 200 degF. can over time be changed such that its ignition point or combustion point is significantly lowered.

Repeated exposure to high temperatures changes the composition of things!!

Just because your mason jar candle holder didn't explode the first time a little fire got out of control, does not mean it will never explode.

It may explode the 5th, 10th, or 15th time you let a fire get out of control.

As things are repeatedly introduced to high temperatures they are not designed to handle, the little bits inside degrade.

When you burn candles or small fires, nothing in the vicinity should be getting hot. No figurines, no altar cloths, no curtains, no shelves, not the surface the fire-holder is sitting on.

If your candle holder is not fire-safe (which you should never use), never allow it to get hot. Maybe you have to put it in a bigger basin with water to dissipate heat, idk.

IF YOU ARE AWARE YOU ARE USING A CANDLE HOLDER OR FIRE BOWL THAT IS NOT FIRE SAFE (WHICH YOU SHOULD NEVER USE), ONLY USE IT IN A FIRE-SAFER AREA, LIKE IN A BATHTUB, OUTSIDE ON CONCRETE, OR IN A TALL METAL POT WITH A LID TO SUFFOCATE FLAMES. This is the same concept as assuming a gun is loaded and never pointing it at anyone.

You can use many random objects to contain fire that will not catch on fire or explode the first times you use them.

The problem is DOWN THE LINE, when you have exposed non-fire-safe materials to heat they were not designed to handle over and over again.

Definition & Explanation of Pyrolysis

[meowcats734]

This article is about the rogue planet. For the mythological figure, see Icarus (mythology). For other uses, see Icarus (disambiguation).

Icarus was an icy rogue planet discovered in 2024. It is thought to have been ejected from its unknown home star 2.6 billion years ago. From early 2071 to late 2075, Icarus was present in the solar system, and was often visible to the naked eye. Of the lifeforms endemic to Icarus, only four hundred and seven species—an estimated .000005%—were documented by scientists. Of Icarus’ sapient lifeforms, only one living Singer (Icarus Sapiens) has been successfully returned to Earth.

Initially, interest in Icarus was predominantly limited to the scientific community once it was announced in 2025 that Icarus would not directly threaten Earth as it passed through the solar system. However, after the 2031 CLARITY mission, when liquid water and potential biosignatures were first detected beneath Icarus’ cryosphere, funding towards the exploration of Icarus rose significantly.

First Contact

Before the 2052 Daedalus landing site was established, popular consensus was that the first alien lifeforms humanity met would be technologically superior. However, the first Singer settlement discovered by the Daedalus crewed submersible was a tribal society formed within the decaying corpse of a Large-bodied Tenor (Mellifluus Civitas). The settlement, best translated as “Distortion of Sound in Warm, Rising Water”, was chosen due to its proximity to the Daedalus drill site; gas bubbles in the body caused by decomposition allowed Distortion to float approximately two kilometers above the surface of the ocean floor.

Although initial protocol for the Daedalus crew was to avoid contact, the crew did not anticipate the precision and sensitivity of Singer echolocation, and were swiftly detected. Despite initial concerns of conflict, with the assistance of the Daedalus AI’s linguistic analysis, tentative contact was established. By 2053, the Daedalus crew had established a basic understanding of Singer biology and the culture of Distortion.

The largest barrier to communication was the nature of Singer language. The primary Singer sense was their echolocation; as they evolved sapience, Singers learned to communicate by mimicking the sounds they heard when echolocating certain objects. Several Singer “words” well-known to popular culture include: the sound of a pod of Singers migrating (lit. “family”); the faint echoes produced by calling into empty water (lit. “loneliness”); and the high-pitched hum of the Daedalus propellers (lit. “impotent gods”).

The Massacre of Worms

Of utmost importance was successfully communicating to the Singers that Icarus was on a collision course with the Sun, and would be entirely destroyed by 2076. Even in 2053, the ice sheet which covered Icarus was already beginning to sublimate under the increased temperature. As there existed no word for fire, sun, or stars in the Singer language, a warning that their world would soon decay (lit. the sound of flesh devoured by worms, growing louder and coming from all directions) was transmitted to the citizens of Distortion of Sound in Warm, Rising Water.

In what is now known as the Massacre of Worms, the entirety of the Singer village immediately attempted to attack the Daedalus submersible. At the time, the mechanism by which Singers communicated was still poorly understood, but interviews and brain scans of the Last Singer have confirmed that Icarus Sapiens experience a species-wide condition similar to human synesthesia. In order to convert the feedback from their echolocation into useable information about their spatial environment, Singers evolved the ability to “see” sounds as hallucinated physical objects. As such, every word spoken by a Singer produces a corresponding illusory image in the mind of every Singer who hears it. Unfortunately, the warning delivered by the Daedalus submersible manifested as an imploding sphere of rotting flesh centered on the village of Distortion, and was interpreted as an attack. The Daedalus submersible sustained little damage, but out of fear that the Distortion villagers would sour relations with other Singer societies, released hypochlorous acid clouds to calm the attackers; it was believed that high concentrations of hypochlorous acid would cause the Singers to become lethargic and contented, as if they had recently consumed a filling meal. Unfortunately, due to a poor understanding of Singer biochemical sexual dimorphism, the chemicals released resulted in the deaths of nearly half of the Distortion villagers.

Through great difficulty, it was conveyed to the surviving Distortion villagers that the Massacre of Worms was a mistake, but the remaining Singers refused further contact with the Daedalus crew. Although a second attempt to halt the spread of negative rumors in Singer society was considered, the disastrous failure of the first attempt caused no action to be taken.

Termination of the Daedalus Mission

Swiftly following the Massacre of Worms came a breakthrough in solar magnetohydrodynamics, and with it, the alarming discovery that the collision of Icarus with the sun would cause a solar storm, which would deal trillions of dollars of damage to the economy. Negative press surrounding the Daedalus crew, as well as the importance of hardening the global power grid against the solar flare, caused funding for the Daedalus expedition to be cut, and the mission slated to end in 2060.

In an effort to preserve as much of Icaran life and culture as possible, the Daedalus crew attempted to make contact with and offer salvation to as many diverse Singer settlements as they could. At the peak of their efforts, in 2059, they had made contact with nineteen different Singer settlements around the planet, and although the Daedalus crew’s claims of planetary destruction were met with widespread skepticism, sixteen of them agreed to send representative Singers back to Earth. Unfortunately, four weeks before the launch date, when the Singer representatives were brought together, hitherto-unknown cultural conflicts between the Singer settlements the Daedalus crew had contacted caused the Singers to devolve into physical combat. A still-shoddy understanding of Singer biology led to the Daedalus crew being unable to save most of the Singers injured in the brawl. In the end, only one Singer survived the destruction of Icarus.

See also:

National Icaran Zoo

Icarus in popular culture

Consumption of Icaran lifeforms by country

Death of the Last Singer

(psst, I write more stuff here!)

[hexheathen]

The Unknown Biology: Part 1 (Dead by Daylight)

Hello! I have done biology stuff in the past on my theories of how the unknown is made up, so I might as well share! I will start with just him, and then we will talk about UVX next! :> This is just for fun, I am not a science professor and this is all theory!

The Biology of The Unknown: A Multi-Host Parasitic Entity

The Unknown from Dead by Daylight exhibits traits consistent with an obligate multi-host pathogen or parasite, hijacking the biological functions of its hosts to sustain itself. Its physiology suggests a reliance on host cells for both sustenance and structure, using neurotoxins similar to UVX to influence neurotransmitters within its prey. This parasitic nature allows it to maintain multiple forms simultaneously, integrating the biological material of consumed victims into its own ever-changing anatomy.

Decomposition & Cellular Function

The Unknown’s ability to persist over time suggests that its body decomposes at a slower rate than that of normal human remains. This delayed decomposition is likely due to its cold body temperature, which inhibits bacterial activity and cellular breakdown. However, despite this slowed decay, its tissues do degrade over time, necessitating periodic consumption of fresh biomass.

While it appears that the Unknown has a circulatory system of some sort, the fluid moving through it does not carry oxygen to living cells; rather, it seems to serve as a medium for preserving necrotic tissue. The Unknown sustains itself by digesting bodies and breaking them down into stem cells, which it then repurposes to maintain and reconstruct its own form. The parasitic entity functions as a central nervous system, controlling this process and dictating the distribution of new tissue. Since the cells maintain the genetic markers of the original host, the Unknown is able to exploit this genetic code to mimic and maintain humanoid structures. However, because its body still deteriorates over time, it must refresh its cellular composition every few months.

Growth & Expansion: The Process of Biomass Integration

The Unknown’s size and physical adaptations are directly correlated to the amount of biological material it has consumed. As an obligate multi-host parasite, it integrates the tissues of its victims into its own form, but this process is more than simple expansion—it involves an instinctive redistribution of mass based on structural necessity.

Stages of Growth

Consumption & Digestion – The Unknown envelops a body, breaking down muscle, skin, and bone into a more usable form. It prioritizes nervous tissue and marrow-rich bones to extract viable stem cells.

Stem Cell Repurposing – The parasitic core reconfigures absorbed cells into functional tissue, maintaining the host’s genetic structure while allowing for modifications.

Integration into the Core – The newly generated tissue is distributed strategically, reinforcing critical areas and expanding the Unknown’s form as needed. The parasite’s central intelligence determines how and where the new mass is allocated.

Forms of Expansion

The Unknown’s expansion is not uniform; rather, it adapts to its immediate needs, shifting mass accordingly:

Reinforcement & Density – For increased strength, it condenses its form, enhancing muscle mass and bone density. This allows for powerful bursts of force at the cost of flexibility.

Intimidation & Presence – When seeking to terrorize prey, it elongates its limbs and distorts its features, creating an unsettling, towering figure.

Pursuit & Dexterity – In high-speed scenarios, it redistributes mass into elongated, reinforced limbs to enhance agility, creating jerky, unnatural movements that resemble multiple entities moving in tandem.

Adaptation & Regeneration – In moments of injury, it reallocates internal tissue to reinforce damaged areas. However, this process consumes its stored biomass and requires replenishment over time.

Limitations of Expansion

Despite its ability to grow and reshape itself, the Unknown is limited by the total mass it possesses. It cannot shrink beyond the minimum biomass required to sustain its parasitic core. In extreme cases, it can forcibly compact itself, withdrawing mass into its core structure. This is an emergency measure that leaves it vulnerable, as seen in the rare instance where it was temporarily forced into a pasta sauce jar—an event it has not allowed to occur again. (this is a silly thing that happened in RP not cannon)

Decomposition & The Need for Sustenance

Even though the Unknown can manipulate its physical form, its cellular composition remains in a necrotic or barely functional state. While its cold body temperature slows decomposition, it cannot fully prevent it. Over time, tissue breakdown accelerates, requiring the absorption of fresh biomass.

If the Unknown goes too long without consuming new hosts, its tissues begin to degrade. In such cases, it must shed rotting mass, causing it to shrink. This ongoing cycle of consumption, expansion, and decomposition ensures that the Unknown remains an ever-hungry predator, constantly seeking new bodies to maintain its stolen existence.

Conclusion

The Unknown is a parasitic entity driven by an unrelenting biological imperative: survival through assimilation. Its ability to manipulate biomass, alter its form, and sustain itself through host consumption makes it one of the most terrifying manifestations within the Fog. Bound by the laws of decomposition and biological necessity, it must constantly seek new victims to maintain its presence, ensuring its place as a relentless force of horror in the fog.

[dailydemonspotlight]

Dead Lobster - Day 135

Race: Wilder Alignment: Dark-Neutral October 25th, 2024

HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT THE RADDEST DEMON IN THE SERIES!!!!

Ahem. Jokes aside, mythology takes many different forms. While we traditionally associate mythology with ancient cultures and the stories consisting of their religious beliefs, such as Greek or Egyptian mythology, the term 'mythology' as a whole is incredibly broad and can be applied to many different things: Urban legends, cults of personality, and basically any form of story and/or a widely spread idea throughout society. However, given the fact that a myth's many definitions can even just include a generally accepted belief around something, mythology can encompass even something as specific as a popular misconception. Case in point, today's Demon of the Day, one based off of one such misconception: the Dead Lobster, a myth grown around, of all things, the culinary arts.

According to popular legend when it comes to cooking seafood, Lobsters need to be cooked alive or else they'll end up poisoning the rest of the pot with them. This belief actually does come with quite a bit of truth to it, though it's not nearly as absurd as the legends will claim- the popular misconception states that, even in seconds, a dead lobster will end up poisoning not only itself but also everything around it, but this is only the case if stored in high temperatures. A dead lobster, if prepared properly in a short timeframe, is still safe to eat. However, the prizing of freshness in general has led this belief to being somewhat radicalized into every single dead lobster being a potential danger if consumed.

The reason for this lies in the decomposition process of a lobster. While, for the most part, a lobster is incredibly hardy and is incapable of dying traditionally of old age (though they still can, it's a very long story,) when one dies it experiences a total shell death brought on by the releasing of several different enzymes that literally go into it and shut down its internal organs. The enzymes that keep a lobster alive and prevent it from experiencing cell death are released upon the death of the lobster as well, polluting it and making it essentially become poisonous. However, while a lobster will become septic upon death, one can keep this process from occurring even after the lobster's death by keeping it cold and properly cooking it after the fact, as it'll slow the speed of decomposition.

Still, this eventually led to the idea that any dead lobster is a bad lobster, and soon the misconception spread throughout culinary circles, essentially making it a form of myth... in the world of cooking. To an extent, I'm not even surprised that the culinary world has its own mythology. Chefs can be weird. Naturally, as the idea grew, so did the severity of it, and it went from food poisoning from eating a dead lobster to actually dying upon eating a dead lobster. This leads us back to SMT, finally, where we see what the hell a dead lobster is doing among the ranks of biblical demons and gods from many different mythologies.

The design of the Dead Lobster in SMT, which is a demon unfortunately only exclusive to Megami Tensei 2, is an incredibly interesting one for a variety of reasons, but I take particular interest in the bug-like wings. The insectoid pair of wings seem to be based off of many types of insects, primarily seeming to be those of a fly, but what's more important is the association of insects. Many types of insects are poisonous themselves, after all, and the idea of wings on a dead being also vaguely allude, hilariously enough, to stereotypical depictions of cherubs. It's almost like the Dead Lobster in the series is the spirit of a lobster ascending to heaven... ah, how tragic. Also, I don't know where else to put this, but Dead Lobster sounds a lot like Red Lobster, the fucking food chain. I don't know what they were cooking, (but maybe it was lobster?)

lober

[ria-writes-stuff]

Is This Entertaining?: The character sheet

ITE is my current largest WIP, a superhero/villain Dsmp au centred around Peer Pressure Duo, with side orders of bio family SBI, polyam Techno/Phil/Kristen, The Syndicate, and a certain duck hybrid who works for it.

The main cast:

Ranboo Belova:

Ranboo, our unfortunate protagonist, is an albino teenager who is employed as a Hero-in-training (HIT) after being caught as the illegal Vigilante ‘Ghost’, named for his ability to go undetected almost anywhere. He’s been (unknowingly) entangled in Syndicate business since he was picked up by Teagon ‘Techno’ Rowan as his violin student after being orphaned. Neither Techno nor Ranboo know of the others alternate identity.

Ranboo, despite being just about the tallest person in the city, is very much a product of his upbringing, and is very quiet, reserved and eager to please, as well as deeply traumatised.

Teagon ‘Techno’ Rowan:

Techno is one of the three leaders of the terrorist organisation, The Syndicate, married to Phil and Kristen, and all round Not A Great Guy. He’s best known to the public as his Villain alias ‘Gore’, named for his cannibalistic tendencies and his powers of flesh manipulation (he can literally melt the skin off someone if he wishes, or in less violent uses, do stuff like raise their temperature, lower their blood pressure, or give them a bad headache).

He is very much the villain in Ranboo’s story, he’s abusive, manipulative, controlling, and has done his best during Ranboo’s childhood to dehumanise and condition him. However, through a mix of genuinely loving the kid (in his own fucked up way), Ranboo’s forgiving nature, and the fact he’s been conditioned to love Techno, Ranboo continues to stay close to him, desperate for the affection that he can’t get (or is not allowed to get) from anywhere else.

I really do love their dynamic, fucked up as it is, there’s a lot of affection between them even when horrific things are happening (being held by the same hands that are hurting you is my Roman Empire), and when writing from Ranboo’s POV you really get an idea of how much he loves Techno (like a kicked dog loves its master-)

Alexis ‘Poker’ Bernal:

Poker, as he’s most often seen as, works for the Syndicate, he’s fairly high up in the ranks, as a powerful Villain in his own right, and he basically owns a section of the city known as Las Nevadas. He’s currently dating Mirror, the Syndicates eldest son, in no way safe or sane relationship (at least it’s consensual?), which makes every rational person in his life very concerned, but he’s too in love to care.

Poker is very much an older brother figure to Ranboo, he’s a safe haven amongst all the eggshells he has to walk around Teagon, he never has to watch what he says or how he acts around him. Poker is very fond indeed of the poor kid the Syndicate have snatched, and does his best to keep Boo safe. The two often meet up in secret to do things together, or just sit and talk for a while. Until he became a HIT, Poker was the only person Ranboo really had who was consistently safe, and as such their bond is very strong.

Secondary characters:

Kristen Morrigan:

Kristen is the joint leader of the Syndicate, married to Phil and Techno, but is the ‘Big Boss’ so to speak. She makes the final decisions, and she’s not to be argued with. She’s the biological mother of Tommy and Lucian, and regards Ranboo with fondness (and some mild grief for the knowledge that he’s one day going to be pushed too far and break entirely). Villain alias is Madam Mortality, for her powers of advanced decomposition. She can rot anything and anyone (which is excruciating when done on a person, and can kill in seconds if she can’t control how much she uses it).

Phil Greenville:

Joint leader of the Syndicate, biological father of Tommy and Lucian, known as the Villain Shriek. He has powers of mental manipulation through song - for as long as someone can hear his song or hum, he can control them. He’s hard of hearing due to a fight gone wrong when he was a new Villain, and has hearing aids. He’s a good father to his kids, and was mostly the one to raise them while Techno was in the field and Kris ran everything from behind the scenes. He’s also fond of Ranboo, but doesn’t have the same attachment that Kris does - he thinks the kid’s amusing, but he hasn’t really bonded in the same way.

Cassandra Whitlock (OC):

Cassandra (known solely as Doc, she doesn’t even have a civilian identity anymore after faking her death when she started out), is a Vigilante Healer who provides housing for a number of Vigilantes and as many of the street kids as she can, funded by extortionate prices for her healing services. She heals civilians and Vigilantes for free, but makes Heroes and Villains pay according to how much they can afford. She heals using a golden ichor that drips from her fingers, and is both one of the most efficient healers in the city, and one of the few willing to go into an ongoing battle to heal. She hates the Syndicate with a passion (but still heals them), and has known Ranboo for years, having given him a place to stay after almost a year on the streets. She sees him as a little brother almost, and is very good friends with Poker.

Minor Characters:

Tommy Innit:

Biological child of Phil and Kristen, known as Cerberus, he’s an unwilling Villain, and first meets Ranboo when he’s locked in the Hero Tower cells as a prisoner. He has fire powers that he struggles to control, and was friends with Ranboo when they were younger. However, as they both aged, Tommy started to realise how fucked up the entire situation was, and he feels uncomfortable spending time with Ranboo when his family is around.

Lucian Speculo:

Eldest biological child of Phil and Kristen, known as the Villain Mirror. His powers are very dangerous - looking into his eyes makes people essentially suicidal, and he can’t control them so he wears sunglasses and a veil most of the time. He’s dating Poker, but doesn’t feel anywhere near as close to Ranboo as his partner does. He sees Ranboo like the family dog essentially, and has never and will never be attached to him. He can be useful, sure, but why would you get attached to something that’s going to die anyway?

Cara Puffy:

Known as the Hero Captain Cyclone, for her abilities to control air, she’s Ranboo’s mentor in the Hero Tower. She’s very fond of him, and has been spending the last eight months he’s been there trying to figure out exactly what the fuck happened to this kid, holy shit this is so bad, I’m horrified. (She has a massive board in her office, complete with red string everywhere, trying to pierce together exactly what happened to Ranboo. Her two leading theories so far are that he has DID, and Teagon is a harmful alter (he’s been known to switch personalities pretty quick, and she’s caught him dissociating between them, she’s no psychiatrist but she’s talking to friends who are), or that Teagon is a groomer whose name is fake which is why he isn’t appearing on any database she searches through)

Okay wow that was longer than I thought it would be lmao! If you have any questions, or want to be added to the ITE tag list, let me know!!!

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Love In Trouble [Part One]

Fandom: Elvis Presley, American Musician, RPF

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Original Female Character, Austin Butler x Original Female Character

Characters: Elvis Presley, Original Female Character, Austin Butler,

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 2576

Summary: Lori Presley lives the high life. She has a lovely home, a elegant wardrobe and her parties are the most sought after ticket in town. Not to mention her husband is the King of Memphis. But what if she no longer wants to be the Queen?

Tags/Warnings: This is a mafia au with detective austin butler entering the chat, Memphis Mafia, Detective Austin Butler, Adultery, Infidelity, Love, Angst, Unhappy Marriage, Murder, Court Room Drama in the loosest possible way, AU, Set in the 70s

Notes: The first couple chapters are a bit slow going but we'll meet Lori and Elvis soon I promise. Looking to post every other week with this one :) Enjoy

LINK TO ALL PARTS // LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST

Ever since he was a little boy Austin Butler had loved the sun. There was just something about it; the way it shined basking everything it covered in a golden hue or how everyone seemed a little happier whenever it was out. He supposed it was because it made him feel like he was at home in California, a place he had been missing quite a bit recently, the clunky fit of her new job and his run down flat making him yearn for palm trees and ocean breeze. He’d even take his old partner at this rate, a curmudgeonly old man knocking on the door of retirement and not one to care about a young detective trying to find his feet in a new precinct. Though if there was one thing he desperately missed about home it was the fact that the Californian heat couldn’t wreak half as much havoc on a dead body like the balmy air of Memphis did.

After working in homicide for so long he’d figured he’d gotten used to all the smells that a ripe cadaver could hold but in this tiny apartment with no air conditioner and the contending June temperatures he was proved wrong. He held his breath as he ducked under the police tape cursing himself for having eaten not so long ago as his turkey sandwich did cartwheels inside him. Then again he supposed it could be worse he could be the guy splayed out on the floor in front of him lying in a pool of his own blood, his eyes still staring out glassy and cold.  Austin sighed.

Even though his entire job was murder it somehow never got any easier. The number of dead bodies he’d seen didn’t take that sickly feeling away whenever he was confronted by his latest victim. Though admittedly he wondered if that was less to do with a life being snuffed out too soon or the fact he knew that at some point he’d have to take this news to their friends and family and rip their world apart. It was a grief he’d known himself, one that never got easier no matter how much time or distance you shoved between yourself and it.

Given that the coroner had yet to arrive it meant that the crime scene was technically still closed and so he was careful to keep his distance when he bent down beside the body, wrinkling his nose at the fresh waft of decomposition. The guy was young, no more than early twenties if he’d had to guess, and attractive too in a boyish sort of way. Though they were lifeless now he could tell his pale blue eyes were striking and had no doubt once complimented the guy’s skin tone even if it was now waxy and pallid. In fact the only detracting feature was the bullet wound to his temple which he had no doubt looked better on this side than the one that had landed face down, spewing blood onto the beige carpet and turning it a deep shade of brown. 

‘There’s gunpowder on his face,’ his partner, Detective John Melling, said as he appeared from nowhere, his errand to find the manager of the place apparently done with.

‘Yeah I know, a close shot,’ Austin said, pulling up from where he was crouched and trying to ignore the way his slacks stuck to the back of his knees as if glued there by sweat, ‘which means that bullet is probably somewhere in that bookshelf.’

‘Good luck with that one,’ John snorted. Austin rolled his eyes. He liked John. He was a good detective, smart and good with families, but he, like most of the other detectives in Shelby County, had yet to make his mind up about the newcomer from California. And so he treated him as the rest did, with caution, until he proved his worth which in this instance meant finding a bullet amongst a backdrop of wood and wall. 

As John moved away to rifle through the man’s mail Austin moved around the room, stopping first at the bookshelves. He could see the path it had taken, ripping a novel in half as it hurried to its final destination only that looked to be out of reach and so he made a note to circle back to it. After that he moseyed on looking for his first impression, one that was building bit by bit until he spotted an older bald man standing by the uniformed officer at the police tape.

‘Can I help you?’ Austin asked the man who had been staring at the body as if in a trance. Austin moved to block his view, feeling a sudden urge to protect his victim as if he was now exposed as if he hadn’t already been ogling the guy himself. 

‘Uh, no, I er,’ the man mumbled. John barely looked up from the stack of envelopes as he said, ‘he’s the one who called it in. Landlord.’

‘Oh,’ Austin said, moving towards the man so that they were just separated by the doorframe and police tape. Again the landlord’s eyes flitted back to the body, his colour paling as he suppressed a dry heave. Austin cleared his throat, diverting his attention as he asked, ‘you see anything uh?’

‘Geoff, Geoff Halton,’ the landlord said, ‘and uh no. Like I told your friend I was just coming to collect the rent.’

‘When’s that due?’ Austin asked.

‘First of the month,’ Geoff replied. Austin raised an eyebrow.

‘And you waited,’ he paused, checking his watch for the date, ‘what five days to come and ask for it? That doesn’t sound like any landlord I’ve ever had.’

‘Well he’s never normally late so I gave him a few extra days,’ Geoff said as he pulled a crinkled-up handkerchief from the pocket of his slacks so that he could dab his sweaty brow, the perspiration nothing to do with the outside temperature. Austin knew he was being unfair that the likelihood of this weathered middle aged man having anything to do with this was low but he had always found putting the first responder under pressure to be a good technique. In their desperation to prove their innocence they offered up more evidence which looking around the bare bones of this guy’s apartment couldn’t be a bad thing.

‘Five’s a lot of days,’ Austin countered.

‘Like I said he’s never been any trouble and I’d rather have one good tenant a day or two behind once in a while than a nightmare one on time. But when he still didn’t swing by my office I thought something might be up,’ Geoff replied.

‘So when he didn’t pay up you came around?’ Austin asked, receiving a nod in return.

‘I knocked but there was no answer,’ Geoff replied.

‘Did you let yourself in?’ Austin asked, his eyes surveying the wood of the door for any scuffs or marks. If he had done it was likely that any prints on the door handle would be useless. 

‘I have the master key,’ Geoff said, adding in protest when he saw Austin deflate, ‘but I only ever use it for emergencies! And when I came in I could smell, well, that. I saw him lying there and I knew there ain’t no use checkin’ he was still alive so I called you guys.’

‘Do you know his name?’ Austin asked, suddenly realising he’d been poking around in this man’s life without even knowing his most basic detail.

‘Tony,’ Geoff replied.

‘Tony what?’ Austin pressed.

‘Bowen,’ John replied, holding up an envelope as Austin looked his way before turning his attention back to the landlord.

‘Did he live here alone?’ he asked.

‘Yeah,’ Geoff replied.

‘Any relatives?’ Austin pressed, the mugginess of the room making this feel harder than he’d anticipated it to be.

‘I’d have to check his file to see who he listed,’ Geoff said, ‘we’re not exactly close.’

‘Obviously the man’s been laying in your building dead as a doornail for five days,’ Austin countered, his sniping coming out before he had a chance to stop it. Geoff seemed bolstered by his tartness, straightening up from the nervous pathetic puddle he’d been and growing irritated as he said hotly, ‘what I meant was I don’t know much about him. He keeps to himself; he keeps his nose clean and that’s as much as I need to know.’

‘Not too clean evidently,’ John countered, finally moving away from the stack of unopened post. Austin could feel him looking around, surveying the scene, and feeling as though they’d probably pressed about as much out of Geoff that was useful he decided to cut him loose in favour of asking his partner his opinions.

‘Go with officer Bryant here and find those papers. We’re gonna need a next of kin to notify,’ Austin said, not waiting for a response before he turned his back on the man. John raised an eyebrow but waited until the pair of them were left alone with just Tony for company who admittedly didn’t make much of an effort to join in.

‘You were a little sharp with him don’t you think?’ John asked, perching on the edge of a sofa arm.

‘It gets them to the point,’ Austin said dismissively, ‘and considering he wasn’t much help that’s a good thing.’

‘Yeah? Let me guess the room’s telling you more than the eye witness is,’ John said, his scepticism poking through. That was another thing he was still getting used to, the reliance people of the south had on human nature. Over the dozen or so cases they’d worked together he’d been astounded to realise just how much word and character spoke when clear cut facts were staring people in the face. In fact ‘they’re good folks’ was a narrative he was sure he’d never get on board with. Still he didn’t bother to argue the point but rather present the facts themselves showing how even without speaking the room had said more than the landlord had.

‘Maybe. He’s a single guy right?’ Austin asked.

‘Looks like,’ John said, glancing around, ‘he could have a girl though.’ 

‘One that doesn’t get in contact or check up on him for more than five days?’ Austin asked, raising an eyebrow. As John shrugged and nodded in agreement he continued, ‘from the looks of this apartment I’d say he’s a single guy living alone and his landlord doesn’t know his next of kin which means he either doesn’t have one or they’re infrequently in touch or at the very least they don’t come here to see him.’

‘Right,’ John replied.

‘So why are there two glasses of half-drunken scotch on the coffee table?’ Austin asked, watching as John noted the two whiskey glasses in front of him.

‘So there was someone here,’ John replied.

‘But his mail is unopened and the pizza box on the counter is full, an uneaten pizza just sitting there,’ Austin continued making John’s eyes drift past him to the De Roma’s pizza box sitting on the kitchen worktop, the bottom of the cardboard darkened by the grease that had been soaking into it as the pizza lay uneaten.

‘So what?’ John asked.

‘I think he came home with the pizza and mail in hand but he was distracted by someone coming over. It mustn’t have been planned otherwise they’d just eat the pizza together. If it happened after he’d been home for a while the pizza would be gone and his mail opened,’ Austin said.

‘He opens the door for the guy who’s gonna put a bullet in his skull and asks him if he wants a night cap?’ John said sceptically.

‘Maybe the person came to talk and Tony felt like he had to,’ Austin replied.

‘But if it was about something worth killing the guy for I can’t imagine it was a polite chat. And apart from the dead guy the apartment looks in pretty good condition to me,’ John said, glancing around the room. He was right apart from the unsightly corpse in the centre of the room; the rest of it was relatively tidy. Granted it wasn’t very large with the room split into a living and kitchen area but there was no clutter, apart from the bookshelf there wasn’t much personality to any of it. It actually resembled Austin’s current apartment, devoid of personality though his was due to lack of time to make it his own given the fact he was new in town and always working. Though at this point that felt slightly better. He may have not had a chance to put a fresh lick of paint on his walls but he also hadn’t had a chance to make enemies like Tony apparently had. Austin was thinking about that, wondering what had made the guy sit down with the person who would end his life. 

Had he known what was coming or why they were there? Or had he been blindsided by it all? 

‘Is that his file?’ John asked, snapping his partner out of his trance as the landlord reappeared at the door along with their officer. Apparently Austin’s attitude had left no love lost as he nodded but didn’t say anything, offering the small manilla folder over the tape as if signalling both his compliance and reluctance at the same time. Austin rolled his eyes but watched as John took the folder from him before he quickly scurried out of view.

‘What have we got?’ Austin asked as John threw the folder down on the tiled counter with a splat before he started to sift through it. If he was being honest with himself he wanted to read through it himself but knew it was probably better to give him the lead here. John’s eyes flitted across the pages. From what Austin could see there were a few info pages, copies of receipts and rent stubs but nothing much else.

‘Says here Grandma’s next of kin but it looks like she lives in Florida,’ John murmured as he read through the sheet, ‘lease agreement was signed over a year ago and he works at, oh.’

‘What is it?’ Austin asked craning his neck to try and spy what he had spotted. Though as his partner looked up, a beaten expression falling across his face he started to worry.

‘He works at Kings,’ John said with a sigh.

‘So?’ Austin said. He’d heard of the place. A little club on Beale Street, a home of good music and the hotshots of Memphis though he had yet to scope out the joint for himself. What he had heard though did not warrant the reaction John was giving, one that signalled their job had just gotten a little harder. Then again as a native Memphian maybe there was something Austin didn’t know yet. After all there wasn’t a club or bar on his patch when he worked the beat he didn’t know inside out. He knew which places were known for trouble and those he could rely on for a tip here or there. And from the look John was giving him he was sure Kings wasn’t one of those he could hit up for some friendly police cooperation.

‘So if he works there then chances are this is something to do with them,’ John said.

‘Who?’ Austin asked.

‘The Memphis Mafia.’ 

ELVIS TAGS

@girlblogger2002 @sania562 @caitlin1996 @literally-just-elvis-fics @notstefaniepresley @18lkpeters @velvetelvis @jaqueline19997 @elvispresleyxoxo @amydarcimarie @everythingelvispresley @elvispresleywife @lillypink @richardslady121 @louisejoy86 @ccab @i-r-i-n-a-a @lettersfromvenus @artlesson8892 @presleyenterprise

AUSTIN TAGS

@purejasmine @caitlin1996

[dr-octavio-kalev]

"Jesus loved everyone, but the insects loved me more..."

ANM №: ANM-627

Identification: Hive Man

Danger Level: Snit 🟡 | Contained ⭕️

Lead Researcher: Dr. Öctavio Kalev

Type of Anomaly: Human, insectoid, historical, military

Containment:

ANM-627 must be housed in a temperature-controlled containment chamber in Department-05, designed for insect-based anomalies, with an internal temperature maintained between 22-26°C and humidity levels between 50-60%. The chamber must be equipped with an air filtration system to prevent the escape of any insects from the subject. All personnel interacting with ANM-627 must wear full-body protective suits to avoid insect infestation. The chamber should be regularly inspected for structural integrity to ensure no cracks or gaps allow for a potential breach.

ANM-627 should be fed nutrient paste through an intravenous tube once every 48 hours. Interaction with ANM-627 is restricted to research personnel with Level 3 clearance or higher. No personnel should physically contact ANM-627 without prior approval. Any abnormal behavior or changes in insect population density must be reported immediately.

In the event of a containment breach, Subject P personnel armed with flamethrowers will be mobilized to neutralize all escaping entities. Recontainment efforts will focus on incapacitating ANM-627 using high-frequency ultrasonic devices to disrupt communication with the insects.

Description:

ANM-627, known as "Colony Man," is a humanoid male (formerly known as █████ ████), approximately 1.7 meters tall and weighing around 25 kg due to the skeletal state of his body. ANM-627 is in a constant state of decay, having undergone a remarkable and anomalous transformation wherein his body has become a living hive for insects, currently housing thousands of insect species, primarily beetles, ants, and wasps. Despite the extreme decomposition and mutilation, ANM-627 remains alive, though in a state of severe physical deterioration.

ANM-627's body is largely devoid of skin, muscle tissue, and internal organs. Most of his organs have been consumed by the insects inhabiting him, except for the brain, eyes, and a significant portion of the nervous system, which remain intact, though heavily deteriorated. What remains of his body is calcified bone, with the structure appearing fossilized and coated by a brittle, spiny substance similar to an exoskeleton secreted by the insects. Pockets of insect colonies are embedded within ANM-627's skeletal structure, notably in the ribcage, pelvis, and femur bones.

ANM-627’s mouth, now perpetually open, serves as the primary point of entry and exit for many insects, and his nasal cavity has similarly been hollowed out and repurposed as a conduit for insects. His appearance is deeply disturbing, especially to individuals with trypophobia (fear of holes or pitted surfaces) due to the numerous openings and cavities in his body where insects are constantly seen entering and exiting. Additionally, ANM-627’s insect-infested exterior is a source of extreme discomfort for those with entomophobia (fear of insects).

ANM-627 was first discovered in ████, Cuba, living in an improvised shelter within a garbage dump, subsisting in a semi-immobile state. Local reports indicated that ANM-627 had been seen wandering near urban waste disposal sites for years, but attempts to approach him failed due to the overwhelming swarm of insects that constantly surrounded him. Task force "Sewer Worms" was dispatched to handle ANM-627's retrieval after local authorities failed to relocate him safely, resulting in multiple fatalities caused by insect swarms.

Subsequent investigations revealed that ANM-627 is the former Cuban revolutionary █████ ████, a guerrilla fighter who assisted Che Guevara during the Cuban Revolution. Historical records indicate that ANM-627 was captured by Batista’s forces during the revolution, subjected to brutal torture, and used as a living host for insect-based torment over several months. His captors reportedly introduced colonies of carnivorous beetles, larvae, and other insects into his body as a form of enhanced torture. However, after a mass escape orchestrated by revolutionary forces, ANM-627 escaped captivity.

It is believed that ANM-627, severely disfigured and traumatized by months of insect-induced torture, developed anomalous abilities that allowed him to survive despite his grievous injuries. These abilities appear to be directly linked to the insects infesting his body, which now sustain his vital functions, using his skeletal remains as a hive.

Although ANM-627 exhibits constant physical pain, as evidenced by his hollow groans and occasional erratic muscle spasms, he has largely become desensitized to his suffering over time. ANM-627 is capable of limited speech and appears to have some degree of control over the insect colonies residing in his body. He has been observed giving subtle vocal or physical signals to the insects, which then respond by adjusting their behavior, including forming defensive swarms or retreating into ANM-627’s body cavities.

ANM-627’s ability to communicate with the insect colonies is still under investigation, but preliminary research suggests a form of neurochemical signaling or pheromone-based interaction. ANM-627 can also release insect swarms as a defense mechanism, overwhelming any perceived threats with sheer numbers.

Despite his grotesque physical state, ANM-627 has demonstrated a high level of cognition and retains fragmented memories of his life before the transformation. ANM-627 has referred to the insects inhabiting his body as "companions" and expressed a reluctant acceptance of his current state, claiming that the insects "saved" him and allowed him to continue the fight, though his understanding of the passage of time seems distorted.

Addendum 627-1: Interview Log

Interviewer: Dr. Ortega

Interviewee: ANM-627

Dr. Ortega: Can you tell us your name?

ANM-627: (in a distorted, raspy voice) ...█████... I was... that... once.

Dr. Ortega: Do you know what happened to you?

ANM-627: (pauses) The insects... they kept me alive. I didn’t want... but I needed them. They made me one of them... hollowed me out. Now I’m... a hive.

Dr. Ortega: Why did they choose you?

ANM-627: (shaking) I... fought. They tortured me... insects, crawling inside... eating me from within... but I fought... I got out. They stayed with me. (groaning in pain) Always with me.

Dr. Ortega: Do you control the insects?

ANM-627: (slowly, deliberately) They listen... they hear me. I... ask. They do what I need. They... protect me... they need me.

Dr. Ortega: Do you feel pain?

ANM-627: (long pause) Yes... but now it’s mine... we live with it. Together.

Dr. Ortega: One last question: Do you remember the revolution? Che Guevara?

ANM-627: (shaking, coughing) ...Che... we fought... for something... but now... all I fight for is them... and the silence. I know Che was killed... we failed... all together...

[End of Interview]

Addendum 627-2: Incident Report 627-A

On ██/██/20██, ANM-627 exhibited unusual behavior, with a significant increase in the insect population within his containment chamber. Several species of predatory wasps, not previously observed in ANM-627’s colony, emerged from his body and began attacking research personnel. After the initial swarm, ANM-627 was observed vocalizing loudly, causing the insects to retreat. This event raised concerns about the long-term stability of ANM-627’s containment.

Final Note: ANM-627 represents a unique and disturbing anomaly, merging human suffering and insect adaptation into a singular entity. Although the subject remains contained, further research is necessary to understand the full extent of ANM-627’s control over the insect colonies and how this relationship has allowed him to survive in his current state. The remains of a rebel may not want to attack, but his insects do. We hope they continue to obey him; we do not want another infestation issue like we had with ANM-284.

[misfitwashere]

MAR 24

Jessica Aber, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was found dead in her Alexandria home on Saturday morning. More than 48 hours later, her body has yet to be examined by the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Authorities have not provided a reason for the delay, and Aber’s cause of death remains unknown.

THE FACTS SO FAR

Jessica Aber was 43 years old at the time of her death. She resigned from her post as U.S. Attorney in January following Donald Trump's inauguration and the subsequent turnover in Justice Department leadership. Aber had led significant cases during her tenure, including the prosecution of Asif Rahman, a former CIA analyst who pleaded guilty to leaking classified information, and multiple cases against Russian nationals involved in money laundering and war crimes.

On Saturday morning, Alexandria Police responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at Aber’s home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. According to dispatch audio, the individual who discovered her body declined to perform CPR before paramedics arrived.

The Alexandria Police Department has described the investigation as routine protocol and has not classified Aber’s death as suspicious. The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet examined her body or released a timeline for when an autopsy will occur.

REPORTS OF A MEDICAL CONDITION

Reports from Fox News, CBS News, and NBC News cited an unnamed family friend who claimed that Aber had a “longstanding medical condition.” The nature of this condition has not been confirmed, and no medical records have been publicly released. Neither Aber’s immediate family nor medical officials have verified this claim.

While a chronic condition could explain her unexpected death, medical examiners typically conduct autopsies in cases of sudden, unexplained fatalities — especially when the deceased was relatively young and healthy.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A TIMELY AUTOPSY

Forensic experts emphasize that performing an autopsy within the first 48 hours is critical for preserving key evidence. Time of death can be estimated using body temperature, rigor mortis, and lividity, but these indicators become less reliable as the body cools and decomposition begins. Toxicology results are also time-sensitive; alcohol, drugs, and certain toxins break down quickly after death, making delays particularly risky in cases where poisoning or overdose are possible factors.

External injuries, such as bruising or pressure marks, can fade over time, especially in cases of suffocation, strangulation, or blunt force trauma. Gastric contents, which help establish when the deceased last ate, also degrade with time. In politically sensitive cases, forensic teams often prioritize quick examinations to ensure no evidence is compromised.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE DELAY

The delay in Aber’s autopsy has raised concerns because her career placed her at the center of high-profile cases involving national security, Russian-linked criminal networks, and geopolitical tensions. While no evidence of foul play has been confirmed, her sudden death — combined with the lack of an immediate autopsy — has drawn public scrutiny.

Authorities have not explained why the autopsy has yet to take place, leaving questions about whether routine protocols are being followed. While some delays can result from medical examiner backlogs or administrative processes, those circumstances have not been cited in Aber’s case.

WAITING FOR ANSWERS

The Alexandria Police Department maintains that Aber’s death is being investigated as a matter of protocol and has stated that there are no signs of foul play at this time. The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine Aber’s cause of death, though no timeline has been announced.

In the absence of official findings, Aber’s sudden death has fueled speculation — some pointing to her past cases, others referencing her reported medical history. Until the medical examiner completes its work, the facts surrounding Jessica Aber’s death remain incomplete.

Her colleagues have described her as a respected and accomplished prosecutor, widely admired for her professionalism and dedication to justice. As the investigation continues, the delay in examining her body has only added to the uncertainty.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

A Way You Can Store Your Vegetables For Months

Have you ever wondered how our ancestors preserved a whole winter season worth of frost-intolerant produce? Canning is a useful method, though a large harvest can easily turn it into a seemingly impossible task. The solution many generations before us turned to was building a root cellar.

Although many cannot build their own old-world root cellars due to rentals, adequate space, or urban environments; a little common sense and wisdom of temperature and humidity guidelines will allow anybody to whip together an ideal means of prolonging produce-life through the winter.

A conventional root cellar, which essentially is a room buried in a hillside or underground, meets only a handful of criteria.

INSULATION: The earth is a wonderful insulator. A typical old-world root cellar was literally buried on all sides except the entrance, utilizing the natural insulating properties of the soil.

VENTILATION: It is important that your make-shift root cellar can breathe. Warm stale air needs to float out of the top of your chamber as fresh cooler air makes its way through the bottom. This is important to keep humidity levels under control in order to prevent the rot of moisture-sensitive vegetables such as squashes.

DARKNESS: Light accelerates the decomposition of fruits and veggies. An ideal means of storage incorporates complete darkness.

Consider what you may have on hand if you would like to construct a practical yet permanent root cellar: Burying an insulated plastic or metal trash can with a tight lid is a popular option. Others have gone to the trouble of recycling an entire broken refrigerator by submerging it in a hillside. Another option is to frame off a corner of your basement with a window or vent. A more conservative approach is to sink a large cooler into the ground. If one of these avenues are chosen, make sure you are ventilating with a hose or pipe.

A blast valve or similar device may be incorporated to prevent below freezing temperatures from entering your storage compartment.

My personal favorite involves little more than a pile of straw, hay, leaves, or moss and a minimal amount of elbow grease. It is most effective with potatoes (Read on).

As a rule of thumb make sure not to wash any produce prior to storing. This will greatly reduce its ability to keep. Instead provide enough drying time for exterior dirt to dehydrate, then brush off any large clumps.

Apples can be a dangerous food to store with other produce. The idiom one rotten apple spoils the barrel is spot on. As apples age they release ethylene gas which causes other produce to rot too. It’s a wise practice to isolate them in shallow containers with lids. They keep best in 80-90% relative humidity and prefer temperatures of 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit. Check on them often and remove any signs of rot.

Beets prefer the same 32–40-degree temperature range but can withstand a bit more humidity. Outdoor storage is an easy and effective method to practice. Before hard frosts begin simply hoe dirt over the protruding shoulders keeping the foliage exposed. As winter begins, mulch over the rows with up to a foot (more for colder climates, less for warmer) of leaves, straw, or hay.

This method may be applied to carrots, parsnips, turnips, celery, rutabagas, cabbages, leeks, kale, and spinach with some success as well. Regarding flavor, the longer you can keep cold tolerant produce in the ground, the better. Cool fall temperatures sweeten many vegetables such as beets by literally increasing the presence of sugar.

Brussels sprouts are somewhat frost hardy and can be left in the garden until late fall. They may be kept in a root cellar for some time however a lack of moisture will shorten their lifespan. Like beets they prefer a temperature range of 32-40 degrees and high relative humidity of 90-95%.

Cabbage can withstand light frost when it is young and moderately severe frost when mature. Some varieties are briefly tolerant to temperatures as low as 20 degrees. The method of mulching beets above can be employed here. Cabbage prefers cold temperatures of 32 to 40 degrees and high moisture of about 80-95% relative humidity making it a good root cellar candidate. Either cut off the head or pull out the entire plant (roots included). If the roots are left on it may last a bit longer in a cellar, however if the stump is left in the ground a smaller leafy cabbage will emerge the following season.

Carrots can be kept in the garden under mulch just like beets. Remember to cover the shoulders with dirt. They prefer temperatures of 32-40 degrees and relative humidity of 90-95% in a root cellar. If storing in a cellar, harvest before the soil freezes, cut the stems close to the carrot, and store in a bucket of leaves or sawdust with a loose lid.

Cauliflower and Celery prefer cold temperatures of 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit and very moist relative humidity of 90-95%.

Celeriac is one of the best keeping vegetables during the winter months. Trim off the longer roots making sure not to cut too close to the meat. Store it in damp sawdust, sand, or moss at an ideal temperature range of 32-40 degrees and a very moist relative humidity of 90-95%.

Dry Beans can be harvested after pods are nearly dried out while still attached to the vine. Spread the pods on newspaper for a week or two until completely dry. A productive trick to separate the beans from the pods is to fill a bag and beat it with a stick. When a hole is cut in the bottom corner the beans will fall out pod-free. Dry beans store well in temperatures between 32-50 degrees though they can withstand freezing temperatures. They are less moisture tolerant at an ideal range of 60-70% relative humidity. Store in dry containers with tight lids.

Garlic needs to be air dried in a warm arid area for 2-3 weeks. Remove the roots and store at an ideal 32-50 degrees with 60-70% relative humidity and good airflow.

Leeks come in frost hardy varieties which should be utilized if growing for storage. They can withstand a bit of snow and the mulching process may be used up until the ground freezes. Harvest with some roots still attached and stored at an ideal 32-40 degrees upright, preferably in wet sand. Though leeks prefer a high relative humidity of 90-95% take care not to wet the leaves during storage.

Onions require curing until the necks are quite tight before storing. To cure, spread them in a dry area with sufficient airflow or hang them upside down. Ideal storage temperatures range from 32-50 degrees with a relative humidity of 60-70%. Make sure they are stored in an breathable container such as crates or mesh bags.

Parsnips store well in uncovered ground until a solid freeze at which point they should be mulched. The frost improves their flavor for a succulent spring harvest. Store harvested parsnips in damp sawdust at an ideal 32-40 degrees and a high relative humidity of 90-95%.

Potatoes should be cured in a dark place for 1-2 weeks at 45-60 degrees. After this they prefer cold temperatures of 32-40 degrees and moist relative humidity of 80-90%. A great means of outdoor storage is piling an insulating material such as straw or hay on top of unused winter garden space with a few inches of dirt on top. Make sure to keep a ventilation hole, clear of dirt, on one side of the pile and a drainage ditch around the perimeter equipped with a small runoff canal.

Throughout the winter hungry gardeners can reach through the ventilation hole and fish out the produce. If you have a tarp on hand covering the top of the pile, but not the ventilation hole, will prevent your storage mound from eroding away. If many potatoes need storing and more than one pile is not an option layer the pile with 4-6 inches of insulating medium, followed by a single layer of potatoes, followed by 4 inches of soil. Repeat the layering process.

Pumpkins should be cured like squash (see below) with the stem left attached and stored around 50-55 degrees. Relative humidity should fall between 60-75%.

Sweet Potatoes can be preserved all the way until spring if properly cured and stored. To cure, let air-dry in a warm humid environment of 80-85 degrees and 90% relative humidity for 10-14 days. This will toughen the skin and improve the flavor. Sweet Potatoes store best in an unheated room of about 50-60 degrees with a moderate relative humidity of 60-70% taking great care not to let them drop below 50 degrees.

Turnips should be harvested before heavy frosts, tops removed, and stored as you would carrots in a moist insulator such as sawdust, moss, or sand.

Winter Squash should be harvested before a hard frost when the skin is tough enough to prevent penetration from a moderately pressed thumb nail. Flavor is best when the seeds are given a chance to fully develop. Make sure to leave the stem on the fruit and cure for about 10 days at 75-85 degrees, ideally. Store them in a moderately dry and warm spot where the temperature doesn’t drop below 50 and preferably stays below 60 degrees. The best relative humidity for storage falls between 60-70%. Great information by Farmacy.

Source: I Support Farmers Markets

[dinosaursonthetwinplanet]

The cosmic transmutation in dinosaur fossils

I propose the nuclear- idea, tying it directly to the rapid mineralization of fossils:

Cosmic Transmutation and the Role of Hydrogen

. Cosmic Synthesis of Matter It is well-established in astrophysics that heavier elements such as silicon, iron, gold, and even rare earth metals are not formed under typical Earth conditions. Instead, they are forged in the hearts of stars and during catastrophic cosmic events such as:

• Supernovae (explosions of massive stars).

• Neutron star mergers

• Gamma-ray bursts and cosmic ray interactions.

These events generate the necessary pressure, temperature, and particle flux to convert simple atoms like hydrogen into a wide array of elements through nuclear fusion and neutron capture processes. 6.2. Hydrogen-Rich Tissue as a Cosmic Medium Dinosaur bones, like all biological tissues, are rich in hydrogen, primarily due to the water (H₂O) content and organic compounds. Under standard Earth conditions, this hydrogen remains chemically stable. However, exposure to a high-energy cosmic force (e.g., radiation burst, plasma flux, exotic particle field) could theoretically:

• Disrupt molecular bonds.

• Introduce high-energy particles or magnetic fields

• Catalyze transmutation or crystallization of elements within the tissue matrix In such a scenario, hydrogen atoms within the tissue could act as the foundation for elemental transformation—either by directly participating in nuclear processes or by serving as catalysts for the deposition of silicates, forming quartz-like structures. 6.3. Quartz and Silica Formation via Cosmic Influence Quartz (SiO₂) and silica-based minerals are common products of post-supernova ejecta, as well as planetary cooling influenced by cosmic silicon dust. If a cosmic event influenced Earth’s environment—either through atmospheric interaction or direct energy deposition—it could plausibly:

• Inject silicon or catalyze its crystallization from local silica-rich environments

• Activate rapid silicification of hydrogen-rich biological matter

• Result in petrification that mimics the structural integrity of live tissue This could explain the near-perfect preservation of cellular and vascular structures in fossilized dinosaur bones—something unlikely under slow permineralization alone.

My hypothesis integrates cosmic-origin matter transformation, suggesting that cosmic-scale forces may not only shape the universe but could also interact with biological material on Earth in ways that challenge traditional models. Through cosmic transmutation, hydrogen-rich organic remains could have been transformed into durable mineral forms like quartz in a rapid, non-linear process.

Would my hypothesis explains several key fossilization mysteries?

Explanation of instantaneous petrification via high-energy cosmic flash events: Instantaneous Petrification via Light-Speed Cosmic Energy Bursts Building on the principle that cosmic forces act at or near the speed of light, we propose that certain fossilization events were triggered by a brief but intense energy burst—akin to a cosmic flash event that interacted with hydrogen-rich dinosaur remains at or near the surface of the Earth. Key aspects of this process:

• Speed of Light Reaction: The energy possibly electromagnetic, photonic, or plasma-based would have acted in fractions of a second, petrifying the outer layers of biological tissue before it could penetrate the interior.

• Capsule Effect: The outer petrified shell acted as a protective barrier, sealing the internal tissues from air, moisture, bacteria, and decomposition. This explains why structures such as blood vessels, soft tissues, or even cellular remains could be preserved for millions of years without decaying.

• Energy Penetration Limitation: The extreme density and mineralization of the petrified outer shell (e.g., silicified or quartz-like matrix) may have prevented the energy from fully permeating deeper structures. Thus, only the outer layers fossilized, while inner sections remained biologically preserved, albeit protected by the mineral “capsule.” This mechanism can account for puzzling findings such as:

• Intact soft tissue in T. rex femurs, where degradation should have occurred over geologic time.

• Selective fossilization, where exterior features are mineralized but interiors remain partly organic or semi-structured. • Preserved biomolecules (e.g., collagen, heme, even DNA fragments in rare cases) under layers of dense fossil material.

Scientific Implications If such instant cosmic petrification events occurred, they would require:

• A cosmic burst aligned with Earth’s surface at a specific angle and intensity.

• Pre-existing water-rich biological remains in the path of the burst.

• Possibly, a rare atmospheric or planetary condition that allowed or focused this event. The implications of such events would reshape our understanding of:

• Paleontological preservation mechanisms.

• Interactions between astrophysics and biology.

• The timeline and mechanisms of mass extinction and fossilization Yes, there is strong scientific evidence that a supernova (or multiple) occurred close enough to Earth in the past few million years to leave measurable traces:

Evidence of Past Supernovae Reaching Earth:

1. Iron-60 Isotopes in Earth’s Crust • Iron-60 (⁶⁰Fe) is a radioactive isotope that does not naturally occur on Earth in detectable amounts.

• It has been found in deep-sea sediments, Antarctic snow, and lunar soil samples.

• These isotopes date back to around 2–3 million years ago, indicating that a nearby supernova exploded and deposited material on Earth.

2. Location: Likely Within 100–300 Light-Years

• The suspected supernova likely occurred within this range close enough to affect Earth’s environment, but far enough to avoid total extinction.

• Such an event could send cosmic rays, shock waves, and high-energy particles that reach Earth.

3. Impact on Earth

• These supernovas could have contributed to climate change, ozone layer thinning, and possibly even mass extinctions.

• A supernova shockwave interacting with Earth’s magnetosphere or atmosphere could trigger electromagnetic bursts, particle showers, or gamma radiation exposure.

What could have happened past supernova events hit Earth:

• It could have delivered a flash of energy traveling at light speed.

• That energy could have petrified exposed biological remains in fractions of a second.

• This aligns with the capsule effect, partial fossilization, and soft tissue preservation observed in some dinosaur fossils and would cause localized geological transformations aligned with fossil preservation anomalies. The timing and nature of these events support the hypothesis that cosmic forces could be responsible for fossilization processes previously thought to take millions of years.

A microscopic dinosaur bone

[dynmghts]

I am putting my whole brain through chemistry hell with what little I remember from high school chemistry to understand how nitroglycerin works (thanks to one whole thread that's just meant to be silly and goofy, and also ignoring that the substance he makes is described as "nitroglycerin-like"). And man, when I tell you... Katsuki simply has to be built different to deal with his Quirk.

For one, it's a good thing that the nitroglycerin only produces from his hands. For two, remember that nitroglycerin is only slightly soluble with water - which also checks out with how Horikoshi draws the sweat beads sometimes, because they're not exactly combining with the nitroglycerin he makes.

But that likely means the nitroglycerin Katsuki makes is... Quite literally pure.

(This got long, so the rest is under the read more!)

Basic fundamentals to understand about nitroglycerin: it is both flammable and combustible. Wikipedia (bc this shit is the only thing making it make sense) says that "flammable applies to combustible materials that ignite easily and thus are more dangerous and more highly regulated". This is because of nitroglycerin's extremely reactive nature, prone to explosion via shock, friction, heat, and flame.

It is a class A explosive under OSHA, which is defined as: "possessing, detonating, or otherwise maximum hazard; such as dynamite, nitroglycerin, picric acid, lead azide, fulminate of mercury, black powder, blasting caps, and detonating primers".

Its HMIS diamond scaffold is as follows (based on this):

Health: 2 (can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury)

Flammability: 3 (can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions)

Instability: 4 (readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or explosive reaction at normal temperatures and pressures)

Special: N/A

Solid nitroglycerin (at 13°C or lower) will destabilise and explode if melted too quickly. A bottle of pure liquid nitroglycerin (14°C-50°C) will explode if it's dropped on the ground. It will begin to decompose at 50-60°C and explode at a temperature of 218°C. Its decomposition has an exothermic reaction, thus it can literally ignite itself. Nitroglycerin does not need oxygen to explode, because it has enough oxygen molecules in its chemical formula.

Its chemical formula in question is C3H5N3O9. The products after exploding are 3 CO2 + 2.5 H2O + 1.5 N2 + 0.5O...

A clean equation looks something like:

4 C3H5N3O9 -> 12 CO2 + 10 H20 + 6 N2 + O2.

Heat liberated from a nitroglycerin explosion exceeds temperatures of 5,000°C. the detonation wave from this reaction reaches a velocity of 7,280-7,700 metres per second, and creates the development of 20,000 atmospheres of pressure. Its explosive energy density sits at about 6.23 kJ/g, which is one of the higher power outputs in terms of explosive molecules.

So what does this mean for Bakugou Katsuki?

Well, simply put, he does not need a substantial amount of nitroglycerin on his palms to create detonations. The tiny sparks he creates are arguably miniscule doses of nitroglycerin that he's spontaneously igniting.

The method of ignition is thankfully obvious: he can heat his palms. He can shock the nitroglycerin on his palms with this rapid heat, thus spurring the molecules into the desired reaction.

It also explains how Katsuki needs to store sweat so he may create larger explosions later on - it's likely that he doesn't typically produce enough nitroglycerin from his palms to immediately justify any large-scale detonations that he desires. So, to achieve this, he has to work harder and sweat more to garner enough of the substance for the result he's after.

In the realm of BNHA, it's pretty clear that Katsuki's explosions don't exhibit the exothermal properties of nitroglycerin, or we would be seeing some very devastating burns left behind. While I think that he is ultimately capable of heat-related damage, his explosions overall are more force-based. I think his ultimate moves (Howitzer in particular) utilise the full force of nitroglycerin's reaction... Maybe, sometimes, reduced to varying degrees depending on the person he's fighting (plus the use of support items, skill, etc.).

For instance, compare his standard Howitzer Impact used against Todoroki in the sports festival to the Cluster-boosted Howitzer against Shigaraki in the final war:

While it was an ultimate move used on Todoroki, he was less experienced at the time, likely hindering its effectiveness. (I want to say he dialled it back so it wouldn't, you know, cause irreparable damage... But it's possible that inexperience trumped its overall power, because he wanted to win with everything he had.)

Then, against Shigaraki, it was so much force that it quite literally moved floating U.A. across the sky. He combined his support gear, his experience, and the amount of nitroglycerin stored to achieve this level of force.

As a further note, because of nitroglycerin's extreme reactivity and explosive properties, it cannot really produce a flame of its own. Because Katsuki's explosions seem to be more force-based on top of that, he is not necessarily capable of setting things alight... (Seen in the training camp arc, where he tried and failed to start a fire, instead just exploding the wood.)

As for Katsuki's natural resistances to his own Quirk (of which I have described before, but I want to reiterate):

Larger explosion sound levels can be anywhere between 120 decibels and 210 decibels... And a human's "safe hearing" level is about 85 decibels. In my headcanon, Katsuki has a natural adaptation which means he can withstand higher decibels than others, but that does not make him immune - so while he can tolerate large-scale explosion sounds in an open area, especially with him at the centre point, he would suffer if it were the same explosion in an enclosed area.

The aforementioned heating on his palms are only a part of Katsuki's adaptation to his Quirk; the skin is also significantly thicker on his palms and fingers, making his tolerance for touching hot things at a higher level. Like... Much, much higher. It accommodates for when nitroglycerin requires 218°C to explode in a controlled environment. It's why he can handle hot things out of the oven, and why he doesn't know what burns on his hands feel like.

The musculature on his arms and shoulders also have a natural level of strength to withstand the force of his quirk, but this isn't impervious either. He's had to train hard and build on that natural strength to best withstand the higher outputs of force.

Exposure to pure nitroglycerin for any individual is ill-advised, but with manga logic and creative liberties, I don't think anyone who wants to hold Katsuki's hand should have to worry. (I'm 99% sure that he washes his hands thoroughly after working out, anyway.) As for Katsuki himself, I think he does exhibit some symptoms of a nitroglycerin overdose when he's pushed himself way past his limit... But these episodes are incredibly rare, and often very short-lived.

The final notes:

Constant detonation of nitroglycerin means Katsuki has a bit of a smoky smell. Past that, there is also a faint caramel smell.

Also do not taste the nitroglycerin (for whatever reason there is to lick his hand or something? Which Katsuki will literally kill you for doing that, because what the fuck). It does not taste as nice as it smells.

[godsinstrument]

climate change blackpill megapost

there are several climate tipping points identified in the united nations intergovernmental panel on climate change sixth assessment report (chapter 3, specifically). tipping points refer to critical thresholds in a system that, when exceeded, can lead to a significant change in the state of the system, often with an understanding that the change is irreversible. they are:

the greenland ice sheet

the west antarctic ice sheet

the atlantic meridional overturning current

monsoon systems

el niño-southern oscillation

tropical rainforests

northern boreal forests

thawing permafrost

extreme heat

current (2022) global warming of ~1.1°C above preindustrial temperatures already lies within the lower end of some tipping point uncertainty ranges. several tipping points may be triggered in the paris agreement range of 1.5 to <2°C global warming, with many more likely at the 2 to 3°C of warming expected on current policy trajectories.

greenland's ice sheet is in disequilibrium and we are committed to 2-3 meters of sea level rise from its melt alone in the next 200 years.

greenland's ice sheets have been melting twice as fast in the last twenty years as they were during the previous century.

rapid increase in the rate of melting of the west antarctic ice sheet is unavoidable.

the west antarctic ice sheet is retreating twice as fast as previously predicted

because of widespread seawater intrusion beneath the grounded ice of the thwaites glacier.

the west antarctic ice sheet will raise sea levels by four meters when it melts.

this is causing the atlantic meridional overturning current to collapse.

the gulf stream (aka amoc) is weakening. 99% confidence. measured volume through the florida straits has declined by 4% in the past 40 years

the gulf stream will collapse between 2025 and 2095. 95% confidence.

the north atlantic is four standard deviations above its historic temperatures.

when the amoc collapses, the arctic sea-ice pack will extend down to 50°n. the vast expansion of the northern hemispheric sea-ice pack amplifies further northern hemispheric cooling via the ice-albedo feedback.

a collapse of the atlantic meridional overturning circulation would have substantial impacts on global precipitation patterns, especially in the vulnerable tropical monsoon regions in west africa, east asia, and india where they will experience shorter wet seasons and longer dry seasons with an overall decrease in precipitation

although recent studies indicate that the amazon will experience net benefit from the collapse of the amoc with cooler temperatures and increased rainfall

increased el niño intensity will increase the frequency and severity of droughts in the amazon rainforest.

even if we were able to stabilize global mean temperature at 1.5º C, el niño intensity will continue to increase for a century

and the amazon rainforest is currently in the worst drought on record, which may indicate it has passed its threshold to maintain its own wet climate.

while widespread and persistent warming of permafrost has been observed in polar regions and at high elevations since about 1980, the highest permafrost temperatures in the instrumental record were recorded in 2018–2019 (data from 2019-2020)

as of 2019 the southern extent of permafrost had receded northwards by 30 to 80km

soil fires in the canadian arctic are burning the peat underground and melting the permafrost. stat from the study 70% of recorded area of arctic peat affected by burning over the past forty years has occurred in the last eight and 30% of it was in 2020 alone.

nasa finds that tundra releases plumes of methane in the wake of wildfires.

in 2023 eight times more land burned in canada than average.

russian siberia experienced a similarly massive fire season in 2021.

a methane source we weren’t expecting was warmer, wetter conditions to increase organic decomposition in tropical wetlands which is releasing ever increasing amounts of methane.

we have been experiencing exponential rise in atmospheric methane since 2006. historical data indicates that we may have entered into an ice age termination event fueled by these methane releases.

we have been over 1.5º C above pre-industrial temperatures since the beginning of 2023.

this may be because of the extreme el niño conditions of the 2023-24 cycle, but breaches of 1.5°C for a month or a year are early signs of getting perilously close to exceeding the long-term limit

and the world meteorological organization expects us to permanently break 1.5º C of warming from pre-industrial levels within the next five years.

the united nations environmental programme (unep) emissions gap report found that current fossil fuel extraction commitments leave no credible path to keeping warming below 1.5º C. based on current policies we will experience 2.8ºC of warming by 2100. even if all current pledges were implemented and followed through with (which they never have been), we will only be able to limit that to 2.4-2.6ºC of warming.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

High-energy-density and long-cycling-lifespan Mars battery

A research team led by Prof. TAN peng from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has proposed a new type of battery that could provide energy on Mars. The battery, which uses Martian atmospheric components as fuel for its reactions, has higher energy density and longer stable cycling than previous designs. The study was published in Science Bulletin.

As the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars is as high as 95.32%, batteries using lithium and carbon dioxide as reactants are considered to have potential applications in Mars exploration. However, the complex environment on Mars, including multiple gas components and intense temperature fluctuations, is often overlooked. Within the range of 0-60℃, the electrochemical performance of Mars batteries exhibits significant temperature dependence.

To address the problem, the team simulated the real environment on the surface of Mars and developed a Mars battery system that uses the Martian atmosphere as direct fuel, achieving sustainable output of electrical energy. At a low temperature of 0℃, the energy density of the battery was measured to be 373.9Wh/kg, with a cycle life of 1375 hours (approximately 2 Martian months).

Specifically, the battery undergoes electrochemical reactions involving the generation and decomposition of lithium carbonate during charging and discharging. By utilizing integrated electrode preparation and foldable battery structure, the team enlarged the cell size to 2×2cm2, further improving the energy density of the pouch battery to 765 Wh/kg and 630 Wh/L.

This study conceptually validates the potential use of Mars batteries in actual Martian conditions and paves the way for the development of multi-energy complementary systems for future space missions.

IMAGE: The application and development potential of Mars batteries. (Image by USTC) Credit Xu Xiao et al.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Hot stuff: A new thermal pathway for a high explosive

TATB (1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene) is an important explosive compound because of its extensive use in munitions and worldwide weapons systems. Despite its importance, researchers have been trying to understand its response to temperature extremes for the past 50 years. A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) team has uncovered a new thermal decomposition pathway for TATB that has a significant bearing on computational models that predict the energy release and thermal behavior of TATB and possibly other insensitive high explosives (IHEs). The research appears in Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics. TATB is widely viewed as the most stable IHE, as it is not easily detonated by external stimuli. It does not undergo the thermal sequence of deflagration-to-detonation (DDT), which is unique among explosives. It requires a proper detonation chain to initiate, so handling the material is relatively free from accidental initiation if proper safety methods are followed.

Read more.

[kore-pythia-hayashi]

Kore, I’m curious. What other powers have you inherited from your father? Can your voice heal people’s wounds? It really seems like it, even if you’re not singing, hearing your words is comforting and brings us much solace. Or maybe you can glow? Your hair looks really shiny…what conditioner do you use?

Silena

thank you for these lovely questions Silena.

The epithets of Apollo in which he became my father are Iatromantis, Chrysocomes, Loimios, Helios. The soothsayer and healer, the lord of the plague and the lord of the sun.

That's where my abilities come from-yes, I heal wounds well, my healing abilities are directly intertwined with my oracle abilities, so he's strong. comforting my voice is one of the manifestations of secondary healing abilities, Billy [Will Solace] has that too, and I can also take away another person's physical pain by shifting it to myself using skin-to-skin contact

Apollo Loimios, - Apollo is the lord of the plague... I can control diseases and the process of decomposition/putrefaction.. It's not the most pleasant power, but it's mine, and with it I once saved my aunt.

as for the shine of my hair, — Apollo Chrysocomes, Apollo with golden curls, that's why I have such hair, my dad just loves them and I like them myself, I use a regular conditioner from the store, damn it, I don't even know its brand, and I smear my hair with rose oil and l comb it thoroughly after waking up.

Apollo Helios - Apollo is the god of the sun, yes, I can glow, turn into a mini sun, still heat up and control my body temperature, also I am not afraid of any high temperatures.. except for Apollo...

Thanks again, Silena, your questions are really very pleasant.