Dr. Joe Schwarcz

So when soldiers in the heat of the battle had to open these ammunition boxes, the tape would tear and they wouldn't be able to open the box. And that precipitated a search to find a tape that would be hardy, but that would easily be removed without tearing. And that's what gave birth to what we now call the duct tape.

Now, one interesting connection there is that that tape originally was made with a backing of a rubber adhesive and some polyethylene that made it waterproof. And in between those was a sandwich, the type of fabric that was referred to as cotton duck. That was the name of a type of fabric. So that also is one of the reasons that people have used the word duck tape, D-U-C-K.

Now, one interesting connection there is that that tape originally was made with a backing of a rubber adhesive and some polyethylene that made it waterproof. And in between those was a sandwich, the type of fabric that was referred to as cotton duck. That was the name of a type of fabric. So that also is one of the reasons that people have used the word duck tape, D-U-C-K.

Now, one interesting connection there is that that tape originally was made with a backing of a rubber adhesive and some polyethylene that made it waterproof. And in between those was a sandwich, the type of fabric that was referred to as cotton duck. That was the name of a type of fabric. So that also is one of the reasons that people have used the word duck tape, D-U-C-K.

And there are all kinds of uses, you know, as you can imagine for duct tape. It saved the lives of the Apollo 13 astronauts where a catastrophe was averted because the astronauts were able to rig up a contraption to remove carbon dioxide from the air that they exhale. And they used duct tape in order to do that.

And there are all kinds of uses, you know, as you can imagine for duct tape. It saved the lives of the Apollo 13 astronauts where a catastrophe was averted because the astronauts were able to rig up a contraption to remove carbon dioxide from the air that they exhale. And they used duct tape in order to do that.

And there are all kinds of uses, you know, as you can imagine for duct tape. It saved the lives of the Apollo 13 astronauts where a catastrophe was averted because the astronauts were able to rig up a contraption to remove carbon dioxide from the air that they exhale. And they used duct tape in order to do that.

You know, it's been said that WD-40 is what you need to make things go, and duct tape is what you need to make things stop. We hear a lot today about PFAS.

You know, it's been said that WD-40 is what you need to make things go, and duct tape is what you need to make things stop. We hear a lot today about PFAS.

You know, it's been said that WD-40 is what you need to make things go, and duct tape is what you need to make things stop. We hear a lot today about PFAS.

PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl substances. which are really a family of compounds that have some very interesting properties that are commercially useful because they make substances water-resistant and oil-resistant. So PFAS would be used, for example, in the making of rain gear. It is used in firefighting foams because it can very effectively blanket a fire and seal out oxygen.

PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl substances. which are really a family of compounds that have some very interesting properties that are commercially useful because they make substances water-resistant and oil-resistant. So PFAS would be used, for example, in the making of rain gear. It is used in firefighting foams because it can very effectively blanket a fire and seal out oxygen.

PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl substances. which are really a family of compounds that have some very interesting properties that are commercially useful because they make substances water-resistant and oil-resistant. So PFAS would be used, for example, in the making of rain gear. It is used in firefighting foams because it can very effectively blanket a fire and seal out oxygen.

It is used in the manufacture of Teflon. It has a myriad of uses. Your pizza box in which your pizza is delivered. You don't want that box to be greasy or wet. So it is treated with these chemicals. Now, the problem is that whatever makes these so useful also creates a problem.

It is used in the manufacture of Teflon. It has a myriad of uses. Your pizza box in which your pizza is delivered. You don't want that box to be greasy or wet. So it is treated with these chemicals. Now, the problem is that whatever makes these so useful also creates a problem.

It is used in the manufacture of Teflon. It has a myriad of uses. Your pizza box in which your pizza is delivered. You don't want that box to be greasy or wet. So it is treated with these chemicals. Now, the problem is that whatever makes these so useful also creates a problem.

The carbon-fluorine bond is a very, very strong bond, and it is responsible for all the beneficial properties of these compounds, but it also means that they are very difficult to break down. So these are not biodegradable. These substances build up in the environment. Now, of course, then the question comes up, so what?

The carbon-fluorine bond is a very, very strong bond, and it is responsible for all the beneficial properties of these compounds, but it also means that they are very difficult to break down. So these are not biodegradable. These substances build up in the environment. Now, of course, then the question comes up, so what?

The carbon-fluorine bond is a very, very strong bond, and it is responsible for all the beneficial properties of these compounds, but it also means that they are very difficult to break down. So these are not biodegradable. These substances build up in the environment. Now, of course, then the question comes up, so what?

Well, once we find that they build up in the environment, we start looking for them everywhere, including in our urine and including in our blood. And it turns out that they are there. It is, however, always important to point out that the presence of a chemical cannot be equated to the presence of risk. That's a different question.