Mercury thermometers are (finally) being phased out.

[conuly]

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is no longer calibrating them.

I remember going to the doctor with my grandmother once, in Texas, and the doctor's daughter was sitting on the waiting room floor gently tipping a bowl back in forth. In the bowl was the mercury from a broken thermometer. It was absolutely fascinating to watch it roll around and join and split itself.

Now, of course, I know how reckless it was, etc. etc. etc. And I do think it's better to limit mercury in our homes and dumps and all.

But it really is magical in some ways. And there's no kid alive in this country today who will know to miss that memory.

Comments

[dragonwolf]

And here I thought they had already phased them out. It seems, too, that Ohio only banned them in 07, and PA only has a ban on them in thermostats. I thought maybe it was because the states I lived in had banned them a long time ago, but it seems that's not the case. *shrug*

I agree, though, watching the things mercury does is fascinating.