Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2020 May 9

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May 9

Removal of lice through vacuum cleaner

Is it possible to remove lice, their eggs, or both from one's body by using a vacuum cleaner on oneself? Freeknowledgecreator (talk) 10:58, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

Is your body a flat surface? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 12:14, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

If the answer is yes, what's the issue? 67.175.224.138 (talk) 12:46, 9 May 2020 (UTC).

Are you sure you want to know? :( ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:04, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

Currently unavailable, alas. Martinevans123 (talk) 13:18, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

Not, it is not. Eggs are firmly glued to hairs, so they can be removed only with hairs. Ruslik_Zero 20:09, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

In fact, the simplest way to get rid of lice is to shave all hairs and wash out all remaining lice. Ruslik_Zero 20:10, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

{{Crustacean needed}} Martinevans123 (talk) 20:21, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

I suspect that a rug shampooer filled with kerosene wouldn't work either. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:56, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

I don't want to nitpick, but... no, wait! ... 107.15.157.44 (talk) 22:02, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

I think vacuuming would be inefficient as they stick to the surface. It is recommended to use brushes with the tips located closely to one another using a special head lice brush, and wash the pillows. See Treatment of human lice (Wikipedia). Gryllida (talk) 01:20, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

I am a human being, so of course my body is not a "flat surface", what a ridiculous question. Note that the question I asked above was not about me personally. Freeknowledgecreator (talk) 22:44, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

This is a reference desk; it is unlikely that references can be found that answers your question directly. Common sense suggests that a vacuum cleaner (with attachment) would have some effect, but not much. 107.15.157.44 (talk) 23:03, 9 May 2020 (UTC) . . . Searching for "lice vacuum comb" will find such devices

Ask a silly question, and you're liable to get some silly answers. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:24, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

They used to treat serious infestations with Lindane aka Kwell shampoo, but that stuff is so toxic that they appear to have mostly stopped. I don't know what they use now instead. Mild infestations = frequent soap and water and some other stuff on the skin. We can't give medical advice so I'm not going to look further into it here. Though when someone mentioned vacuum cleaner vs. hair, my first thought was those rug-sweeping vacuums with rotating brushes. ;) 2601:648:8202:96B0:3567:50D5:8BFF:4588 (talk) 02:35, 13 May 2020 (UTC)

Health effects of drinking diet coke

What are the health effects of drinking diet coke? Is it fattening? Freeknowledgecreator (talk) 22:47, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

In your case, yes, it especially affects the head. Greglocock (talk) 00:19, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

Diet_Coke#Debate_over_health_issues 67.175.224.138 (talk) 00:46, 10 May 2020 (UTC).

Well artificial sweeteners cause insulin to be produced. This can lead to insulin resistance, and increase in blood sugar. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 01:27, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

If you believe this book, diet coke will cause you to have lice and you only drink it because you are already fat. Greenfelder, Alex; Stout, Jordan (2014). 101 Ways to Get Lice: A Remedy to Society's Little Parasites. Lulu.com. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-312-13649-6. I am unconvinced about some of this. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 01:33, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

Greglocock, I am not interested in joke responses. Serious comments only please. Freeknowledgecreator (talk) 01:41, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

I use small text for non-serious responses. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 02:58, 10 May 2020 (UTC)