The Straight Dope 09/17/2004

The Straight Dope -- By Cecil Adams
http://www.straightdope.com

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 09/17/2004

Dear Cecil:

In your recent column about lightning, what intrigued me the
most was your mention of "ball lightning--a rare, poorly
understood phenomenon that behaves like a mixture of
electricity and fire." The accompanying anecdote was
incredible. In the novel Lonesome Dove there is mention of
lightning hopping along the horns of cattle, but I don't
remember if it was in the form of a ball. Do we know any
more about it, Cecil? --Ellen Cherry, via the Straight Dope
Message Board

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Cecil replies:

We don't know jack, though not for lack of trying. The first
systematic survey of mysterious glowing globules was
published in 1838, and countless papers have appeared since.
Despite that . . . well, let's say we have yet to deal with
some basic issues. In the book Ball Lightning: An Unsolved
Problem in Atmospheric Physics (1999), British physicist
Mark Stenhoff writes, "Ball lightning, if it exists, is a
phenomenon that is both short lived and unpredictable" (my
emphasis). Elsewhere he says, "My position is . . . perhaps
that of an agnostic."

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040917.html

STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

In this age of extremely high gas prices, I've noticed that
diesel is quite a bit cheaper than regular gasoline ($1.70
compared with $2.10 in Providence, RI). What would happen if
I put diesel into my gas tank? --Joe A.

SDSTAFF Una replies:

Let's start with the basics. Aside from additives such as
ethanol, which is made from corn, the gasoline and diesel
fuel commonly used today derive from the same source--crude
oil. Although they share the same parentage (just like motor
oil, some plastics, and Velveeta), they have very different
properties.

For more, see: 
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdieselvsgas.html

STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 11/08/1985

Dear Cecil: 

My wife loves sushi. Sushi is just raw fish. Raw fish is
full of deadly contaminants. Is she doomed? Pull no punches.
--Mike M., Chicago  

Cecil replies:  

Mike, I have to be honest with you. There is a big potential 
problem here. It involves something that's small, pink, and
crawls.  HINT: You're not likely to chuck it under the chin and 
go, "Ooh, CUTE Baby Snookums."  You got it, pal. Worms.
Eating raw fish can result in anisakiasis, an infection caused by
an infestation of Anisakis worm larvae.  

Now, don't panic, it's not that bad. They're not BIG worms. 

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_060.html

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