Peculiar Periodicals
It turns out there are even more unlikely publications than The Journal of Unlikely Science. Every Thursday, our very own Dr Steer turns his attention to another weird science journal.
This week: JOURNAL OF SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS
| Name – Woah there! Why did no-one tell me before that fluids can even be slightly critical, let alone supercritical? I've got a cup of tea on the desk, is it sitting there mocking my dress sense and coiffure? I'm not so sure I like this version of the world. |  |
) "click to enlarge") Front cover – Ok so it's not the most inventive cover in the world, but I quite like it. At least it's not having a go about the state of my bedroom, although I suppose that would be quite terrifying if it was. |
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| Off-the-wallness – Supercritical fluids are formed when liquids are put under relatively high temperatures and pressures. At a critical point - for water it's 374oC & 22 bar, - they start to act as though they were both a liquid and a gas. And that's weird. |  |
| Usefulness – Not only brilliant for dry cleaning, recent issues of the journal report that supercritical carbon dioxide can be used to extract the flavoursome chemicals from fruits and spices such as cardamom, turmeric and mandarins. Expect citrus curry flavour crisps to appear in the shops any day now. |  |
| Impressiveness – You spend all hours of the day trying to find the next great method for getting cardamom juice out of a suit, and what thanks do you get? A dishful of lippy CO2 complaining about your choice of tie. You're a martyr to the cause. | |
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| Overall - I like to think that I'm a better man than those liquids. Praise where praise is due and this journal gets a very decent score. Well done! |  |
Impact factor: Like the very first time and girl looks you up and down with an air of disgust and says "I'd rather kiss a gorilla's armpit."Find more Peculiar Periodicals
The Null's other regular features:
Monday: Phunny Phobias
Tuesday: Strange Scientific Names
Wednesday: Doctor Doctor
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Friday: End of the Week Timewasters
Image: Alexander Kokinidis
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