An amusing documentation of the “culture of dancing madness in post-terror Paris”. The Waltzmania phenomenon in 18th century France swept the newly-minted republic off its feet; it was seen as an involuntary dancing disease spread by touch, or even the sight of touch. Were an individual to see others waltzing, their “nervous sympathies” would be activated—that is to say, their senses and imagination would be ignited—and they would dance away without a care for their mental health, morals, or societal expectations. Read full article here
Science
An Eerie Poisonous Fog
If you’re visiting a farm, keep an eye out for an ominous-looking bronze fog. Nitrogen tetroxide, a red-orange gas, is made by certain bacteria during fermentation when oxygen is lacking in the crop. The lack of oxygen causes the bacteria to use the nitrate within the crops, which then produces nitrogen tetroxide. Inhalation of the gas is known to cause permanent lung damage or kill people and livestock. To prevent this, farmers have started performing nitrate tests after four weeks of fermentation. Read full article here
Merv
November 30, 2022
