Why is Nitrogen So Important? Pharmaceutical manufacturers depend on nitrogen (N2), an abundant, inert gas that makes up 78% of the air we breathe, for many essential processes, including mixing raw materials, cryogenic grinding with liquid nitrogen to produce ultra-fine particles, and purging oxygen from packaging, thereby protecting product stability, extending shelf life, and ensuring […]
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment is a diagnostic tool used in healthcare facilities. While most MRI safety focuses on magnetic field hazards, helium leaks present a less visible risk to both personnel and equipment. Liquid helium is necessary for MRI operation, but when released into an enclosed MRI suite, it can rapidly displace oxygen, creating […]
Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe and used across a variety of industries. Valued for more than simply filling party balloons, helium is of critical importance in many commercial applications, including high-tech, automotive, healthcare, and aerospace. Helium Uses For instance, the manufacture of fiber optics requires an all-helium environment to prevent […]
Frozen foods first became commercially viable in the 1930s, thanks in large part to Clarence Birdseye. He is credited with inventing the double-belt freezer, the forerunner to modern quick-freeze technology, which includes the tunnel freezers used by most major food processors in North America. Frozen foods offer many benefits to today’s busy consumers, including convenience; […]
Criminalization of cannabis cultivation and consumption in the United States began with prohibition by certain states in the early 20th century (between 1911 and 1933, some 29 states banned the cultivation and/or use of cannabis), with the first significant nationwide federal restrictions implemented under the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. More recently, just as the […]
When one hears the word “recycling”, does wastewater typically come to mind? Probably not. Most of us think about recycling paper products, plastic bags, aluminum foil, and water bottles. But what happens to the wastewater we create when we bathe, wash the dishes, do laundry, and flush the toilet? According to the International Water Association, […]
In April 2019, six people became sick after being exposed to chlorine gas at a hotel pool in India, because one of the chlorine gas cylinders, which had been stored improperly, began to leak, exposing swimmers to chlorine gas. In June 2019, some 50 pool patrons became ill after a pump malfunction leaked chlorine gas […]
Cryotherapy Cryotherapy (also known as cold therapy) is broadly defined as the use of very cold temperatures for medical or general wellness purposes. Modern cryotherapy (which comes from the Greek kyro, meaning “cold” and therapeia, meaning “healing”) can be traced back thousands of years, and some form of it was practiced by the ancient Greeks, […]
Overview As dog owners, we treat our pets as we do our children, taking care that the food we give them is not only filling and nutritious but contains only high-quality ingredients sourced and processed in ways that meet our exacting standards. For many owners, far in the past are the days of grabbing any […]
Overview Vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel account for emissions of dangerous air pollutants and contribute to the presence of greenhouse gases. Consumers, businesses, and public entities looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to gasoline and diesel-powered cars and trucks have viable choices beyond the well-known battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric variants. Other options in […]
Overview 3D printing (also known as “additive manufacturing”) affords manufacturers the ability to create custom parts that fit together perfectly. Utilized for decades in the medical products and aerospace parts industries, 3D printing is increasingly being used in other industries as well, including the relatively recent advent of 3D printed metal auto parts. New and […]
The art and science of winemaking have been around for thousands of years. Winemakers rely on their instincts, palates, and a thorough knowledge of the nuances involved in every stage of the winemaking process as they strive to achieve the flavors and qualities that they desire. Even a cursory overview of certain elements of […]
The College of American Pathologists (“CAP”) recently imposed new requirements to address risks related to the use and storage of liquid nitrogen (“LN2”) and dry ice. Background The new requirements come after a deadly incident in 2017, when liquid nitrogen leaked at a Georgia lab that was not accredited through CAP. Emergency responders were called […]
Fruit has a brief window where it is perfectly ripe. If farmers waited until every piece of fruit was ripe before harvesting, farming would be more labor-intensive as farmers rushed to pick ripe fruits. Prices might crash due to a short-term glut of fruit on the market. To ensure a steady supply and demand, keep […]
