h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

After my own heart GG. One day I'll tell my ex flatmate about her hideous lamp...

You're right about superglue being used in A&E. Its really good for fixing up head wounds. Stings a bit though, but can leave a really small scar. The stuff that is used is exectly the same as superglue, but comes in sterile tubes, and costs a lot more. Another great way to fleece the NHS!

How is it applied? Right along the wound? If you do not mind me asking
BCNU - Crescent

*Fears mass experimentation with superglue/open wounds amoungst the the more inquisitive h2g2 researchers*

Pretty much, yes. Hold the edges of the wound closed, apply glue. Await scream. Allow to dry. You can use the surrounding hair as a stitch by tying it together.

Cool, useful to know Until later.....
BCNU - Crescent

Just remember to keep your fingertips out of the way of the glue

Another useful question that needs booting up the list

My own anecdote is we superglued a 50p piece to the pavement outside of my office and waited for someone to try to pick it up. It took around two weeks before anyone levered the thing off. All that time the coin and the pavement around it got more and more scuffed looking as folk tried kicking it loose.

My preferences are:

Plastics - polystyrene glue

Fiddly little things that will not be under stress - superglue

Things that need to remain fixed - an epoxy resin

Broken rocks - epoxy resin/No More Nails.

I believe that I'm right in saying that Superglue was not only used in Vietnam to close wounds but was specifically designed to do this. When you get multiple lacerations to the skin, it's not always possible to sew everything up and the glue option is ten times quicker.

Grim but true.

I have been thinking of making a list of the technological benefits of war. Teflon was invented to reduce the friction of space craft re-entering the atmosphere, a direct benefit of the Cold War. There must be thousands of other examples.

Ben

Paint, Radio, Computers, Rockets, Aircraft, Superglue ... How many do you want?

The thing is that War relies on technology to win so war accelerates research. Without war would we still be in the dark ages?

aaaaargh!!! Signature Failure!!!

Er, sorry Moonglum - I'm pretty sure they had war in the Dark Ages...

I posted this tip on the Superglue entry, but it bears repeating...

If you have a broken plastic object with a rough edge, first mend it with Araldite (or equivalent 2-part epoxy). Then break it apart again by bending it gently and repeatedly. Don't damage or lose the Araldite "slug" that comes out. Finally, superglue the Araldite "slug" back in position! The Araldite gives the superglue an ideal pair of matched surfaces to stick to, and the final result is far stronger than the Araldite alone.

Sorry, agcB, but I think Teflon was developed as a dry lubricant for use in situations of vacuum where conventional oils would evaporate. Still a space spin-off, supposedly.

I believe re-entry relied on ablative materials (carbon/carbon composites?) that could handle high temperatures, and where the surface layers progressively 'boiled off', carrying some of the heat away with them, rather than conducting it into the body of the craft.