Tomorrow, January 27, marks the birthday of fantastical English author, Lewis Carroll. Writing in the genre of “literary nonsense,” Carroll penned Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, and other writings.
In appreciation for Carroll’s whimsy and enchanting perspective (one of few authors to title a chapter “The Lobster Quadrille”), we thought we’d take a few minutes to consider other truly unique discoveries, talents, places, and more.
Quarks: Fundamental particles that combine to form composite particles. Quarks cannot be directly observed and come in six types, referred to as “flavors.” They also have intriguing names like “charm” and “strange.”
Chef Ferran Adrià: Coined “the Salvador Dali of the kitchen” by Gourmet magazine, Chef Adria applies science to cooking in a form of molecular gastronomy that delights patrons. He created culinary foam and formulated liquid olives.
Rotorua, New Zealand: With hot springs, geysers, and boiling mud, tourists visiting this wonderland, built over a geothermal hot spot, gain a slightly different perspective on sightseeing. Rotorua resides in the center of Taupo Volcanic Zone and is nicknamed Sulphur City due to its hydrogen sulphide emissions.
The Daxophone; Mounted on a tripod, this instrument contains a slender wooden blade holding one or more microphones. Its sound, which is described as “comical,” is amplified by the microphones. It was invented by Hans Reichel and it is not to be confused with the more-mainstream sounding saxophone.
Tarsiers: Found in Borneo, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, these wide-eyed creatures have hind legs that are twice the size of their torsos. According to sources, each of their eyes is the size of their entire brain. They have long fingers and eat insects mostly, catching them by jumping at them.
What do you find truly unique?
Of course, Cole-Parmer prides itself on offering unique products, of which we have tens of thousands. Stop by and take a look.
Have you viewed the inside of a calibration laboratory? Metrologists are calibrating rotational equipment like tachometers or perhaps air velocity equipment in the wind tunnel or many other types of instruments. InnoCal, our featured calibration laboratory, calibrates and repairs almost any meter, controller, calibrator, recorder, or generator including instruments measuring temperature, humidity, pressure, electrical, force, torque, flow, air velocity, rotational, dimensional, sound, and pH. They also provide a comprehensive NIST-traceable calibration report. View the video to get the full InnoCal experience.
Imagine an easy-to-hold pipettor that does not overrotate the wrist or hand and minimizes pressure. It’s here! The Ovation line of ergonomic pipettors from Cole-Parmer offers an enhanced design that reduces discomfort, fatigue, and injuries. These new pipettors provide relief for laboratory workers who experience repetitive stress injuries caused or exacerbated by traditional pipetting.
Users ranging from Enrico Fermi Scholars to research microbiologists to lab technicians have trumpeted the natural feel and comfort of this design. As the only pipettors that keep the hand in the neutral position (as recommended by ergonomic experts), the pipettors encourage correct posture. In addition, only Ovation pipettors stand upright, allowing for convenient pickup―no racks or stands required.
Choose from several models in the Ovation line, including the Adjustable-Volume Pipettors which allow five frequently used volumes to be stored, Electronic Pipettors for higher throughput testing environments, and the Macrovolume Electronic Pipettor for maximum efficiency during large-volume liquid handling. Left-handed models are also available.
The 45-MHz picoSpin spectrometer resolves proton chemical shifts with a resolution of 100 parts per billion using a very small sample volume of less than 20 microliters. Liquid samples are simply injected into an internal capillary via front-panel fittings.
“We have engineered an innovative and disruptive technology that changes the NMR spectroscopy landscape. With its low price, compact footprint and true spectroscopic capability, the picoSpin-45 spectrometer enables applications that could not be considered in the past,” said John Price, Ph.D., president and chief scientist of picoSpin, LLC.
The picoSpin-45 NMR Spectrometer is a finalist in the Science & Medical – Diagnostic Aids category, one of twelve categories honored by the Edison Awards.
The complete liquid-phase proton NMR system includes permanent magnet, transmitter, receiver, data acquisition, programmable pulse sequencer, Ethernet interface, and intuitive web-based control software.
Get mobile access to Cole-Parmer’s Chemical Compatibility Database. Every day thousands of scientists, engineers, and technicians need to determine chemical compatibility for storage, transport, and use. Finding the right material compatibility enhances safety and saves money.
This app leverages years of research on chemical compatibility for plastics, metals, Elastomers and ceramics. It contains more than 24,528 entries, covering 584 chemicals, and 42 materials. It is the single most comprehensive Chemical Compatibility Database in the world―and it is now available for your iPhone and iPad.
The database’s easy-to-use interface allows you to search in a variety of different ways to get the results you need for your project. If you can’t find the chemical or material you’re looking for, just use the included call button to contact our FREE applications specialists for help.
Did you know Monday, November 8, was X-ray Day? The X-ray was discovered in 1895, purely by accident. Wilhelm Röntgen, a German physicist, was experimenting with electron beams on a gas discharge tube. When the electron beam was on, a nearby fluorescent screen started to glow. Thus began the journey of a technology that is used in medical imaging, dentistry, astronomy, research, and even laser bursts.
Because X-rays pass through muscles and other soft tissue and stop at dense materials, doctors can identify broken bones and cancers growing in the body. Electromagnetic radiation is also used in communication systems and in neutron activation analysis, allowing the identification of elements in a material.
While radiation provides many benefits to the scientific world, high levels of radiation in the environment and in food handling can be hazardous. Cole-Parmer offers Radiation Alert Analog Detectorsto monitor radiation. These general-purpose detectors are available with uncompensated halogen-quenched sensors for measuring alpha, beta, gamma, and X-ray radiation; select meters have energy-compensated sensors for increased sensitivity to gamma and X-ray radiation.
All models are factory-calibrated to pulse generator and can be calibrated to ANSI standards by any certified lab. Anti-saturation circuit is good to at least 100 times the maximum reading in the highest range. No special probes are required.
Meet the new Thermo Scientific APEX 500 Rx Pharmaceutical Metal Detection System from Cole-Parmer. This high-performance system is designed to respond to the exacting demands of the pharmaceutical industry. When installed on the output of a tablet press, deduster, or capsule filler, this system ensures that even small slivers of metal are detected, providing the highest sensitivity possible at high flow rates, while also preventing product damage.
It features a patented multicoil design that consistently delivers industry-leading sensitivity and stability, but is not impacted by product effects or environmental changes. Manufactured to meet the U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) stringent requirements for validated production, this system uses only FDA-compliant materials in all areas that come in contact with the product.
As a completely mobile and adjustable system, the APEX 500 Rx disassembles fast for cleaning. The intuitive icon-driven interface makes it easy to set up and program and also includes multilingual help text. The detector incorporates a Total Quality Solution (TQS) package featuring the patented Thermo Scientific AuditCheck that continuously monitors and validates the system’s performance to help eliminate costly recalls and quarantines.
Measuring the temperature of fruit-sugar mixture for fruit gelee candies
This fall, the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) launched a Science & Cooking Lecture Series and Course. Featuring Harvard professors teaching alongside renowned chefs (including Ferran Adrià, José Andrés, and Wylie Dufresne), the course was designed to explore the relationship between science and food. Cole-Parmer donated laboratory equipment in support of the first-of-its-kind class, including thermometers, cooling and heating baths, balances, and waterproof pH pocket meters.
The equipment is used in the kitchen experimentation component of the course, which also features lectures and demonstrations. Covering topics including viscosity, emulsions, gelation, browning and oxidations, and more, the teaching team seeks to expand the boundaries of gastronomic science. For example, students study thermal energy as it applies to pressure cooking and steaming, learn the rheological properties of bread dough, and discern the effects of kinetics processes on the texture of food.
“Cooking provides an ideal framework to study a variety of complex phenomena―from basic chemistry to materials science to applied physics―through something familiar to all students: food,” said David A. Weitz, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and Applied Physics in SEAS and the Department of Physics at Harvard.
Chef Ferran Adrià’s own nonprofit Alícia foundation originally collaborated with the Harvard team to bring his vision of applying scientific principles to the art of cooking into a reality. Other sponsors include Whole Foods, Le Creuset, Mars Chocolate, José Andrés ThinkFood Group, and Esade Business School.
On this week 53 years ago, Sputnik I successfully launched and changed history. As the world’s first artificial satellite, the launch signaled the beginning of new developments in the military, politics, technology, and science. It also led to the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
For skywatchers, this anniversary is another reason to turn our eyes to the skies. To do so, a versatile telescope is necessary. Cole-Parmer offers a series of microscope/telescope combinations that allow users to magnify up close or view objects―including the moon―at a distance.
Constructed of durable aluminum and plastic, the scope has a 6° field of view. Its lens magnifies up to 10x as a telescope. The microscope/telescope combination includes a neck strap, micro lens stand, hard carrying case, and carrying strap. To use, simply unscrew the micro lens and stand and use the monocular as a telescope.
Because of its versatility, it can also be used for inspecting items up-close. As a microscope, it magnifies objects by 45x.
The latest advancement in Oaktonbenchtop meters has arrived at Cole-Parmer. The new Oakton® 2700 Benchtop Meters offer advanced functionality, making them an excellent choice for research applications.
The 2700-series meters feature superior, oversized displays with a bright backlight and dynamic stability indicator. The meters conveniently stamp all calibration and stored data with the time and date, meeting GLP requirements. Their nonvolatile memory stores and recalls up to 500 sets of data―simplifying the process of documenting large volumes of measurement. Advanced setup options enable user customization for added flexibility. Users can also program data logging intervals for continuous monitoring. Programmable limit alarm sounds off when readings fall out of range.
The Oakton pH 2700 meters have an expanded pH range from -2.000 to 20.000 with improved accuracy of +/- 0.002 pH and a resolution of 0.001 pH. Other models in the series are available to measure ion concentration, conductivity/TDS, pH/conductivity/TDS, and dissolved oxygen.
An economical new video borescope inspection camera takes users where they haven’t been before. The miniature waterproof camera head allows high-resolution viewing in small spaces—ideal for automotive applications, building maintenance, and laboratory analysis.
The Extech Video Borescope Inspection Camera features a 17-mm diameter camera head with four built-in illuminating LEDs and a 2.4″ color TFT LCD monitor. Video can be output for viewing on any monitor with a video input jack. Images are glare-free even with close-up viewing. A 39″L flexible gooseneck cable retains its configured shape.
A wireless version is also available with a 9-mm diameter camera head and a detachable 3.5″ color TFT LCD wireless monitor with 2GB microSD memory card for capturing images (JPEG) or video (AVI) for viewing on your PC. The wireless LCD can be viewed from a remote location up to 32 feet from measurement point. Its menu displays 10 languages.
This week is the anniversary of the first fingerprint being taken and we’re reminded how far forensic science has evolved. Forensics, the study of evidence that identifies a subject, usually refers to identifying a victim or subject of interest at a crime scene.
Forensic scientists use a variety of techniques for identification, however one that is particularly helpful is DNA profiling. This involves utilizing bodily fluids, hair, or skin particles to identify an individual. In addition to DNA profiling, forensics looks at the other evidence to make certain that the identity of a subject is accurate.
Gel XL Ultra V-2 Electrophoresis System
Electrophoresis techniques allow the identification of DNA sequences. Cole-Parmer offers a complete line of products for electrophoresis including horizontal and vertical gel electrophoresis systems, reagents, imaging systems, and power supplies.
Another forensic method is polymerase chain reaction (or PCR). In PCR, a strand of DNA is amplified and replicated through a series of temperature cycles. PCR requires the use of a temperature stable DNA polymerase that replicates the DNA through an enzymatic process that also requires DNA primers, deoxynucleoside triphosphates, and a suitable buffer solution. Cole-Parmer also offers products for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Products include thermal cyclers; chilling, heating and mixing blocks; PCR tubes and strips; PCR plates; hybridization incubators; and sample counters.
If you’ve visited the Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles, the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, or New York’s Lincoln Center, you’ve viewed the flowing spectacles created by Cole-Parmer client Water Entertainment Technologies (WET). The WET team uses water as art, orchestrating its motion and flow, and infusing color and light to produce mouth-dropping displays that fascinate people from all over the world.
As an innovator of water technologies, WET has expanded the boundaries of what is possible in water architecture, creating fountains that spring from pavement and choreography that suggests a well-rehearsed performance. To continue to advance their artistry in elemental design, the WET team launched a new laboratory, dubbed their “Idea Playground,” in Sun Valley, California, and Cole-Parmer supplied a full menu of instruments and equipment for it.
“It is inspiring to help populate a lab that is home to such imaginative engineers, designers, and chemists,” said West Coast Area Business Development Manager Mike Gilchrist. “We supplied WET with a wide array of analytical equipment, including an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, gas chromatograph, chromatography cyclograph, refractometer, trinocular and metallurgical microscopes, recirculating chiller, and many other items.”
The Cole-Parmer team worked directly with WET’s CEO and founder, Mark Fuller, and responded quickly to meet the scheduling requirements for the build-out of the new facility. Because the lab was to serve both form and function, many items had to be customized for the best effect. Only Cole-Parmer had the ability to supply all of the diverse products required, along with the personalized service that ensured all requirements were satisfied. It helped to know the team’s efforts were contributing to the development of breakthrough artistic displays. WET’s recent water installations in Vail, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, have incorporated jets of fire.
With offices in Dubai, Beijing, Shanghai, and Singapore, WET certainly has a global presence. Yet, the Los Angeles-based Idea Playground “laboratory” is home to its cadre of developers, architects, and visionaries. This is where they create the magic that transforms the Dubai Fountain, PetroChina Headquarters, or any of their many displays into sparkling symphonies. And it is here, in the midst of their design specifications and project time lines, that a color meter, analytical balance, and glove box from Cole-Parmer help WET reach their high notes.
EW-48708-20
Handheld, lightweight, portable Digital Microscope, 1.3 megapixels, 10x to 200x magnification, USB connection
Digital Microscope
Active Pixel Technology produces sharp images and accurate color reproduction
Includes software for image/video capture and measurement
Use these digital microscopes for science and engineering work, assembly and quality control, detailed repair, forensics, and more. Six LEDs illuminate your object—turn the LEDs on or off and adjust the brightness using the control wheel on the body. For versions with the 10x to 200x magnification range, magnification automatically adjusts based on the distance from the object. Includes a basic stand with adjustable height; order optional boom stand for greater flexibility.
Capture images and videos through use of the included software (requires Windows® XP, SP2, or Vista). The software also includes a measurement function, brightness and contrast controls, digital zoom, and date and time record.What’s Included: software and microscope stand.
Tarsiers: Found in Borneo, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, these wide-eyed creatures have hind legs that are twice the size of their torsos. According to sources, each of their eyes is the size of their entire brain. They have long fingers and eat insects mostly, catching them by jumping at them.
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