Thinking Harder
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Democrats' Convention Logo Hints at Light Pollution in Denver
Continue reading… 2 CommentsThinking Harder reader Robert Wagner of Kansas City shared an interesting tongue-in-cheek observation yesterday about the Democratic National Convention Committee's logo (below). "I was wondering if anyone else noticed the logo for the DNC," he E-mailed me. "I think it has a little Light Pollution in it. (Orange Sky?)"
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Could Incense Burned in Church Give You Cancer?
Continue reading… 34 CommentsAt a funeral service I recently attended, a minister burned incense near the casket of the deceased. When the pleasant odor reached my nostrils, I inhaled deeply—and then began wondering if I should have. Sure enough, research published this week suggests that breathing in smoke from incense may be harmful. I doubt my exposure during the two-hour service shortened my life span, but it gave me something to think about.
After all, many religions around the world use incense in rituals, and the substance often gets burned in crowded, indoor spaces with limited ventilation. Two years ago, a study (subscription required) found that a Catholic church in Germany contained high concentrations of airborne soot particles during and for several hours after services that involved the burning of incense.
