# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674 "2020-04-13T03:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 492
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9833 "2024-07-04T02:52:28Z")
(My browser history was no help in determining where I found this. I don’t think it was the SDMB, and my searching here didn’t find it. But this is the only site I visit regularly that’s likely to mention a fact like this. Apologies if this is a duplicate.) [Disappearing polymorphs.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearing_polymorphs) > In [materials science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materials_science), a **disappearing polymorph** is a form of a crystal structure that is suddenly unable to be produced, instead transforming into a different crystal structure with the same [chemical composition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_composition) (a [polymorph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymorphism_(materials_science))) during [nucleation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleation).[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearing_polymorphs#cite_note-Seddon-2)[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearing_polymorphs#cite_note-Bu%C4%8Dar_2015-3) Sometimes the resulting transformation is extremely hard or impractical to reverse, because the new polymorph may be more [stable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metastability).[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearing_polymorphs#cite_note-4) It is hypothesized that contact with a single microscopic [seed crystal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_crystal) of the new polymorph can be enough to start a chain reaction causing the transformation of a much larger mass of material.[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearing_polymorphs#cite_note-Dunitz_1995-5) Widespread contamination with such microscopic seed crystals may lead to the impression that the original polymorph has “disappeared.” ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9834 "2024-07-04T04:40:54Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > It is hypothesized that contact with a single microscopic seed crystal of the new polymorph can be enough to start a chain reaction causing the transformation of a much larger mass of material. That sounds disturbingly similar to the action of [prions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prion). ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9835 "2024-07-04T15:44:31Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > It is hypothesized that contact with a single microscopic seed crystal of the new polymorph can be enough to start a chain reaction causing the transformation of a much larger mass of material. That sounds disturbingly similar to the action of [ice-nine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice-nine). ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9836 "2024-07-04T15:52:07Z")
This also sounds a lot like the reverse side of the thesis that some compounds are often discovered simultaneously by multiple teams of chemists because the compound having being sythesized once for the first time “seeds” the world with the capacity to be synthesized again. The concept of [multiple discovery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_discovery) is an interesting one and has some merit, but not, I believe, in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9837 "2024-07-04T16:20:59Z")
Also sounds like the alt-science theory that the very existence of something provides an example for it to happen elsewhere via “morphic resonance”: > **[Rupert Sheldrake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Sheldrake)** > > Alfred Rupert Sheldrake (born 28 June 1942) is an English author and parapsychology researcher. He proposed the concept of morphic resonance, a conjecture that lacks mainstream acceptance and has been widely criticized as pseudoscience. He has worked as a biochemist at Cambridge University, a Harvard scholar, a researcher at the Royal Society, and a plant physiologist for ICRISAT in India. > Other work by Sheldrake encompasses paranormal subjects such as precognition, empirical research into t... ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9838 "2024-07-04T16:44:45Z")
It doesn’t sound much like that at all. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9839 "2024-07-04T16:50:57Z")
The Statue of Liberty is wearing a shackle and chains. [Shackle and chains](https://www.google.com/search?q=statue+of+liberty+shackles&sca_esv=e561d0ec59a4f4d7&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIL7bzcgy9YGxSo4n7STFU1BeTCy3g%3A1720111463426&source=hp&ei=Z9GGZu3gFr2fuvQPuJeBiAc&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZobfdzPBxz6G6qIlroIsUYvAnuDGd60q&oq=staue+of+liberty+shackle&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhhzdGF1ZSBvZiBsaWJlcnR5IHNoYWNrbGUqAggAMgcQABiABBgNMgcQABiABBgNMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigVItVxQ6wdYpEBwAXgAkAEAmAGqAaAB8RGqAQQxNi44uAEByAEA-AEBmAIZoALrEqgCCsICBxAjGCcY6gLCAgQQIxgnwgIKECMYgAQYJxiKBcICERAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGIMBGMcBwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYxwHCAggQABiABBixA8ICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgILEC4YgAQY0QMYxwHCAgUQABiABMICCxAAGIAEGLEDGMkDwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAgsQABiABBiSAxiKBcICCBAuGIAEGLEDwgITEC4YgAQYsQMYgwEYxwEYChivAcICBxAAGIAEGArCAhAQLhiABBixAxjHARgKGK8BwgIQEC4YgAQYxwEYChiOBRivAcICChAAGIAEGLEDGArCAgcQLhiABBgNmAMKkgcEMTcuOKAHhLIC&sclient=gws-wiz) ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9840 "2024-07-04T16:58:33Z")
I knew there was another reason to dislike squirrels. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9841 "2024-07-04T17:27:38Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > In the CS thread about proteges/wards I looked up the show _Bachelor Father_ from the 50s. It turns out it was on for 5 seasons: > > 2 seasons on CBS. > 2 seasons on NBC > 1 seasons on ABC. > > All back to back. The only show that was on all 3 (then) networks in a row. _Pantomime Quiz_ was on four networks in back-to-back years: CBS 1949-51 NBC 1952 CBS (again) 1952 Dumont 1953-54 CBS (again) 1954-57 (summers) ABC 1958-59 Other shows on four networks included _[The Arthur Murray Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Arthur_Murray_Party)_ ; _[Down You Go](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_You_Go)_ ; _[The Ernie Kovacs Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ernie_Kovacs_Show)_ ; and _[Tom Corbett, Space Cadet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Corbett,_Space_Cadet_(TV-series))_ ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9842 "2024-07-04T18:27:17Z")
Technically, she’s wearing a **broken** shackle and chains to symbolize American freedom from the European monarchies and oppression that migrants were leaving. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9843 "2024-07-04T18:52:36Z")
[Technically, she’s wearing a **broken** shackle and chains to symbolize American freedom from the European monarchies and oppression that migrants were leaving.] Not according to the [National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/abolition.htm) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9844 "2024-07-04T19:01:44Z")
The NPS link you’ve cited says > A broken shackle and chain lie at the Statue’s right foot. The chain disappears beneath the draperies, only to reappear in front of her left foot, its end link broken. So how does that contradict the statement that she’s wearing a broken shackle and chains? ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9845 "2024-07-04T19:08:22Z")
I am noting _why_ she is wearing it according to the National Park Service. My first post regarding this was a link to Google images of the shackles and chains. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9846 "2024-07-04T19:13:47Z")
Are you saying this picture does not show a broken chain? [![](https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/images/Chains-2.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false) ](https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/images/Chains-2.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false) Note the leftmost link is broken. Presumably we are intended to infer that it was formerly attached to the bolts sunk into the base. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9847 "2024-07-04T19:15:25Z")
He’s not disputing that but this > [@motu](#): > > symbolize American freedom from the European monarchies and oppression that migrants were leaving ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9848 "2024-07-04T19:31:54Z")
Again my first post regarding this was multiple Google images of the shackle and chain, of which the image Commasense posted was the first image. Where did I say it was not there? Did you not follow the National Park Service link I provided? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9849 "2024-07-04T19:50:33Z")
That link was where I went to confirm the brokenness of the shackles. Here’s the full paragraph. > When Laboulaye’s Statue of “Liberty Enlightening the World” was completed, it not only represented democracy but also symbolized American independence and the end of all types of servitude and oppression. A broken shackle and chain lie at the Statue’s right foot. The chain disappears beneath the draperies, only to reappear in front of her left foot, its end link broken. However, although the broken shackle is a powerful image, the meaning behind it was not yet a reality for African Americans in 1886. And here’s Wiki on Laboulaye: > At the war’s conclusion in 1865, he became president of the French Emancipation Committee that aided newly freed slaves in the U.S. The same year he had the idea of presenting a statue representing liberty as a gift to the United States, a symbol for ideas suppressed by Napoleon III. The sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, one of Laboulaye’s friends, turned the idea into reality. Yes, the recent freeing of American slaves was very much in the air at that time. At the same time, Laboulaye was living in a world that had seen uprisings, class wars, and the resumption of monarchical governments. Can we agree that he may have had both in mind? Can we also agree that the Statue has turned into a symbol primarily for immigrants? ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9850 "2024-07-04T20:27:54Z")
I’m only pointing out there are multiple _“whys”_ for the shackles and chains, nor advocating for any of them. I just don’t understand how any of my posts could have been interpreted as denying the chains and shackles were there. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9851 "2024-07-04T20:31:03Z")
You and me both ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9852 "2024-07-04T20:43:57Z")
I thought she was just stomping on the chains, not wearing them. King Kong is stomping on a lizard in the 1962 Aurora model. Coincidence? [![](https://www.hakes.com/Image/MediumRes/86069/1/image.jpg) ](https://www.hakes.com/Image/MediumRes/86069/1/image.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=491) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=493)