Post by @cstross@wandering.shop

RE: https://chaos.social/@jon_ellis/117191588985808030

Derek Lowe ("In the pipeline") on the MIT dimethyl mercury incident:

"... synthesizing or working with dimethylmercury at this point is not cool, edgy, transgressive, or something to impress the crowd with. It is a wildly stupid idea that will endanger your life and the lives of anyone unlucky enough to be around you while this work is going on. Not to mention anyone who is simply unlucky enough to be downwind. It’s like working with homemade nerve gas, but at least that kills you quickly."

6 Replies

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BashStKid

@BashStKid@mastodon.online 2 hr. ago

@cstross If nothing else, building services should take the lab floor up to check for careless precursor shit dropped and forgotten about by this utter moron.
Before it comes through the ceiling of whoever works below.

jon ellis

@jon_ellis@chaos.social 2 hr. ago

@cstross it seems there is still more to learn. given that they've re-opened the building it might end up having been a false alarm...

Matt Blaze

@mattblaze@federate.social 2 hr. ago

@cstross No one can resist teasing the demon core.

Steve Bellovin

@SteveBellovin@infosec.exchange 2 hr. ago

@mattblaze @cstross Says the guy with a model of the demon core, complete with screwdriver, on his desk…

Matt Blaze

@mattblaze@federate.social 2 hr. ago

@SteveBellovin @cstross Lets me get it out of my system before I encounter a real one!

Steve Bellovin

@SteveBellovin@infosec.exchange 2 hr. ago

@mattblaze @cstross I am curious, though—how many people, besides me, instantly recognized the model for what it was?

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