Does seltzer water help plants grow?

In 1980, Canfield's natural seltzer launched a campaign to promote its product as being great for watering house plants. It printed on its labels: "We recommend our natural seltzer for house plants."

Could there have been any truth to this claim? Is seltzer water actually good for plants? Well, the only vaguely scientific study I can find addressing this claim (after, admittedly, only a brief search) was a student project conducted at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2002. The student researchers concluded, "Plants given carbonated water not only grew faster but also developed a healthier shade of green in comparison to plants given tap water."

So, maybe Canfield's was onto something. However, if you're thinking of treating your plants to some seltzer water, I imagine you'd want to use water at room temperature, not refrigerated. Cold water might shock their systems.

Marysville Journal-Tribune - June 9, 1980

Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer - May 19, 1980

Posted By: Alex - Thu Jul 19, 2018 - Comments (12)
Category: Nature, Science, Environmentalism and Ecology, Experiments, 1980s

Follies of the Madmen #374

Advertising trumps Nature every time!

From The American Legion Magazine for June 1947.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Jul 14, 2018 - Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Nature, 1940s, Alcohol

Propellor-Driven Snowmobiles

This notion goes way back.

The Russians tried them at the start of the 20th century, with the Aerosani.

Here's one from the 1930s.



And finally, one from 2016.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 08, 2018 - Comments (1)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Nature, Weather, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century

Condemn Sunday Picnics

Life in 1898.




Original article here.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Mar 08, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Antisocial Activites, Authorities and Experts, Culture and Civilization, Food, Nature, Religion, Nineteenth Century

Church of the holy lawn

In 1994, Jeff Goldstein, who described himself as a “semi-active pagan-Jewish minister,” got into trouble with the city of Madison, Wisconsin because he refused to mow his lawn. He claimed that to do so would violate his religious beliefs since he worshipped plants. He said he actually prayed to his lawn, and that to mow it would be a “holocaust against the green creatures.”

Goldstein explained that he had formed his beliefs after reading The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tomkins and Christopher Bird. I’ve read that book. If you like strange science, it’s a good read, full of plant-science weirdness. Though I didn't come away from it believing plants are sacred.

The court didn't buy Goldstein's argument, but I don't know if he ever ended up mowing the lawn.

Seems that Jeff died recently, in 2015. You can read his online obituary here.

Appleton Post-Crescent - Mar 13, 1994

Louisville Courier-Journal - Aug 30, 1994

Jeff Goldstein

Available from Amazon

Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 23, 2018 - Comments (7)
Category: Nature, Religion, 1990s

A Rose and a Baby Ruth

Apology on the cheap.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Nov 30, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Music, Nature, Teenagers, Candy, 1950s, Love & Romance

The Atmos Clock

If only you had invested in an Atmos Clock in 1982, the date of the B&W ad, you could have saved a bundle!

Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 08, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Nature, Technology, 1980s

Oyster Flatulence

I didn't even realize that oysters produced flatulence, but I guess this is now something new to worry about.



More info: euractiv.com
Original study: nature.com

Posted By: Alex - Wed Oct 18, 2017 - Comments (6)
Category: Nature, Natural Resources

The Fish

An early forerunner of "Rock Lobster."

Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 18, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Music, Nature, 1950s

A Kookie Little Paradise

Since when did Tarzan inhabit the jungles of the Caribbean?

Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 21, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Fey, Twee, Whimsical, Naive and Sadsack, Music, Nature, 1960s