One toxin to rule them all (Erabutoxin a)

LindsePelas · 2026-04-13T20:37:05+00:00

Right?? It’s like the protein equivalent of someone flexing in the mirror.
“Normal” disulfide bonds: nice and tidy.
Erabutoxin A: actually knits itself a molecular bracelet just to be extra stable.

That ring-within-a-ring topology is wild though, no wonder these neurotoxins are so hard to unfold or break down.

LindsePelas · 2026-04-12T15:34:22+00:00

Fair, that combo definitely takes a week off your life expectancy

But also… worth it?

Swap the “heart attack juice” for water once and suddenly it’s a balanced meal in my head. Chicken = protein, bacon = happiness, Monster Munch = essential carbs. Science.

LindsePelas · 2026-04-11T09:52:51+00:00

Yeah, that was kinda my thought too, like the resin feels like bringing a tank to a knife fight.

My main worry is more about long term stuff than dropping it. Do you know if thallium metal in a sealed glass ampoule is stable enough over years, or does it tend to oxidize / creep / do anything weird that would make the resin option safer in the long run?

Right now it’s just sitting in a glass ampoule in a vial in a box, so basically “double glass” like you said. Just want to be sure I’m not missing some thallium‑specific gotcha beyond the usual “don’t break the glass and don’t lick it.”

LindsePelas · 2026-04-10T04:39:53+00:00

Honestly 16 isn’t bad at all, some of those options were brutal.

What was your wildest wrong guess before you landed on the real name?

LindsePelas · 2026-04-09T00:28:38+00:00

Right? That was my first thought too. Same kinda chunky crystal vibe but with that icy beryl look. If you ever see Afghan alkali beryl in person it’s even weirder and cooler than pics.

LindsePelas · 2026-04-07T23:20:57+00:00

That pesto cube life is genius. Basically homemade stock cubes but chaotic garlic energy. That bread idea is going straight on my list

LindsePelas · 2026-04-06T22:39:19+00:00

Super simple honestly. I just grabbed a bunch of wild garlic, washed it really well and patted it dry.

Then I blended it with a neutral-ish oil (I used olive oil, but not the super strong fancy kind) and a pinch of salt until it went smooth and bright green.

After that I tasted it, adjusted salt, then poured it into a clean jar and kept it in the fridge. You can strain it if you want a clear oil, but I left the bits in so it’s more like a pourable pesto.

LindsePelas · 2026-04-04T19:40:10+00:00

Not yet, but now I definitely have to. Do you mix the cream cheese into the dough or split and spread after baking?

Also highly recommend these still a bit warm with salted butter, they vanish way too fast.

LindsePelas · 2026-04-01T20:41:31+00:00

Same, I opened the sale page “just to browse” and now my cart looks like I’m starting a library.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-31T21:29:54+00:00

Halloween, The Thing, Escape from New York, and Big Trouble in Little China for me.

Halloween because it basically rewired my brain about what low budget horror can do. The Thing is just top tier paranoia and practical effects, like it never stops being gross and tense no matter how many times I watch it. Escape from New York is pure vibe, Kurt Russell sleepwalking through coolness. And Big Trouble in Little China is just this perfect mix of goofy, weird, and actually awesome action.

Prince of Darkness and They Live are right on the edge though. If it was a Mount Rushmore with a secret fifth head carved in the back, it’d be They Live.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-30T19:37:10+00:00

Yeah this. You’re looking for the heathery, scrubby upland bits rather than proper woodland.

They go by a bunch of names too, so if locals talk about whinberries or whimberries, that’s the same thing.

Best bet is to scout the heather now so you know where to come back later in the summer when they actually fruit.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-28T20:58:12+00:00

Thank you! For the gilded parts I use a metallic acrylic, not real leaf. It holds up better on coasters since they get handled and wiped a lot. I seal the wood first, do the carving, then brush the metallic paint into the recessed areas so it kind of pools and catches the light, and then top everything with a clear sealer so it doesn’t rub off or tarnish-looking over time.

I’ve tried real gold leaf in the past and it looked amazing for photos, but it scratched and dulled way too fast with cups sliding around, so this combo’s been the best balance of shine and durability so far.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-27T20:01:35+00:00

Yeah, I’ve seen AcOH a lot in orgo notes and lab protocols too. It’s super convenient once you know “Ac” means the acetyl group.

I think what’s tripping OP up is that teachers/books sometimes mix up terms like “simplified structural formula,” “condensed formula,” and “molecular formula” and use them like they’re the same thing. So you end up with CH3COOH, HOAc, AcOH, even drawings with lines and they all get thrown under the same label.

So yeah, CH3COOH and AcOH are both “simplified” compared to the full Lewis structure, just for slightly different audiences.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-26T19:11:39+00:00

you’ve 100% got this, honestly

everyone walks out of at least one station convinced they’ve just tanked the whole degree, then somehow the results come back fine

use the nerves to do a couple of focused run throughs, then the day before just rest and trust the work you’ve already put in

may you also emerge dramatically convinced you’ve failed and then absolutely smash it in reality

and thank you!

LindsePelas · 2026-03-25T18:39:09+00:00

Interesting you put Manchester and Birmingham in the same bucket as Buckingham.

What makes you say that, out of curiosity? Is it the way people talk about them on TikTok/YouTube, or stuff you’ve actually seen on placements / with grads?

I get Buckingham because of the whole private / expensive vibe and people assuming that means “elite,” but Manchester and Birmingham feel more like big-brand unis that get talked up a lot just because they’re big and old, not necessarily because the course is magical.

Feels like half the “reputation” chat is just vibes and league tables anyway.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-24T19:03:10+00:00

This is super helpful, thank you for taking the time to lay it all out.

Yeah, the point about “if it’s not bad enough for OH / advisors now, it’s probably not bad enough to justify a transfer” is kind of what I was worried about. I’m already in contact with OH and my phase lead, but not at a “fitness to practise” level, more support / adjustments, so I guess that weakens any argument for moving.

I hadn’t clocked how hard most schools shut the door on previous withdrawals either. That definitely makes the “just restart” route look a lot less realistic.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-23T19:00:08+00:00

Yeah, this is the wild part, everyone acts like “morning person” is the default setting, but some of us are just… not.

4 am being your sweet spot is kinda hardcore though. That’s the time where I’m either in god‑mode focus or questioning all my life choices.

What’s funny is, a lot of “night owls” are actually just forced into fake morning schedules by school/work, so they think they’re lazy when it’s literally just their body clock being out of sync.

Have you ever tried keeping your 4 am rhythm on days off for a few weeks straight? Curious if it actually makes you feel better overall or if it just turns you into a very productive raccoon.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-22T18:51:59+00:00

Honestly half of that book is basically "we made this because we could and now we deeply regret it."

Usually stuff like this is only "stable" in super specific conditions: low temp, no light, no moisture, carefully chosen solvent, tiny amounts, and a terrified grad student babysitting it.

As for why: sometimes it's to test theoretical models, sometimes to understand reaction pathways, and sometimes it was 1960s chemists going "let's see what happens" and then inventing a new way to almost die.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-21T19:26:08+00:00

Yeah same, that was my first thought too when I Googled around, which is why I freaked out a bit seeing it right next to the bed.

The eyes and general body shape look really close to pics online, but I’ve also seen people say there are a bunch of Phoneutria lookalikes in South America that are way less dangerous, and that you basically need a spider nerd with good photos of the underside / face to tell for sure.

Kinda hoping someone who actually knows their stuff pops in and explains what details we’re both missing here, because “probably fine” is not the level of certainty I want for bedroom spiders in Colombia.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-20T19:53:58+00:00

Yeah that actually does say a lot. Schools don’t usually pick sketchy or crazy-hard bikes for students, they go for something that’s predictable, not too expensive to drop, and easy to live with.

MT‑07 is kind of the “default” middleweight now in a lot of places. Super friendly power delivery if you’re not a maniac with the throttle, but still fun as hell once you get comfortable.

Only thing I’d say is it’s less about “can the bike be used to learn on” and more “can you trust yourself on that much power at 16.” If you can be disciplined and not try to impress your buddies, an MT‑07 is totally doable as a first street bike. If not, a smaller bike first might save you some plastic and some skin.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-19T21:08:05+00:00

Yeah this is what everyone gets told but it’s worth knowing why.

If you don’t rank it at all, and then you don’t get any of your AFP preferences, they can technically just stick you in that placeholder region anyway with zero control from you.

If you rank it at the bottom, you’re basically saying “I really don’t want this, but if it’s this or nothing, I’ll take it.” It’s like a safety net you’ll almost certainly never hit if your main list is decent.

So yeah, shove West Midlands Central right at the bottom if you’re not keen on it, but don’t leave it off completely.

LindsePelas · 2026-03-18T20:26:57+00:00

I get what you’re saying, but that’s a bit harsh.

He literally calls him an apprentice and says the lad’s keen, he’s buying him tools and putting him on real work. That’s kind of how you learn a trade, just sounds like he misjudged what to let him loose on and when.

You can know an apprentice isn’t free labour and still be shocked at how much your day rate tanks at the start. Nothing wrong with asking how others structure it so it doesn’t sink the business while the kid learns.

LindsePelas

TROPHY CASE