A link between earthquakes and epilepsy?

In a further example of how you can never predict where science will take you, researchers are now using earthquakes predictions to help predict epilepsy.

My personal favourite is still the example of Japanese researchers who were studying the origins of life - considered an esoteric, pure science field - and discovered an efficient way of producing fertiliser!

Another good story is told in the book Mauve where a chemist studying malaria discovered an artificial colour, and to the disgust of his peers (who had also produced colours as by-products) went commercial. Almost ironically, years later artificial colourants in cellular biology lead to better knwoledge of malaria :)

Can anyone else think of examples where science has led to unexpected turns?

Technorati tags: Science, Education, Community, Radio, Canberra, Australia

Too Much Chewing Gum A Really Bad Idea

Wired Science reports:

Two German doctors presented case studies today suggesting that chewing too much sugar-free gum could lead to extreme weight loss of up to 20% of a person's normal body weight.

The cause? The extreme laxative effects of sorbitol (additive code 420 on the list of ingredients) at high doses. How extreme? In one case study a 21 year old girl had diarrhea four to twelve times a day and lost 11 kilograms of bodyweight after chewing 15 pieces a day.

Fuzzy knows best; consider other ways to keep your breath minty fresh.

Technorati tags: Science, Education, Community, Radio, Canberra, Australia