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No. 625: Periodic Table: 54 Xenon

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Periodic Table: 54 Xenon

First | Previous | 2017-08-30 | Next | Latest

Permanent URL: https://mezzacotta.net/dinosaur/?comic=625

Strip by: David Morgan-Mar

T-Rex: T-Rex presents The Periodic Table:
T-Rex: 54 XENON
T-Rex: A heavy noble gas, used in lasers and flash lamps. It has an anaesthetic effect when inhaled, and may increase blood oxygen levels, so is used in sports doping.
Utahraptor: It also has the exiest name and chemical symbol.
T-Rex: Really, now. This is a serious scientific discourse.
Utahraptor: Xe! Xe! Xe!
T-Rex: Hey, that is pretty fun.
T-Rex: Xe! Xe! Xe!

The author writes:

The World Anti-Doping Agency added xenon to its list of banned substances in sports in 2014. However, there's no known way to detect its use in the body. And there's no real evidence that it helps anyway.

It's a bit like banning using voodoo and black magic to enhance your performance.