this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2026
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why does my knife need a web browser smh (lemmy.ml)
submitted 3 days ago by varden@lemmy.world to c/programmerhumor@lemmy.ml
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apparently google has been putting their software in everything including the kitchen sink since 1798??

read for yourself if you don't believe me - source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

the source is a little known but nifty website that desperately needs funding so if you go there you should give them like a dollar or whatever your local equivalent is, like one peso or a bitcoin or what have you

apologies for the english I am an american

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[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

Unrelated, but anyone else think it's really weird that we just casually accept our food utensils containing chromium? Like, I know it's an alloy and not just free chromium, but would we accept a lead alloy spoon? Probably not, especially with most food being acidic. Honestly I'm just waiting for the paper that says we've been slowly poisoning ourselves with stainless steel every time we eat.

[–] Bazoogle@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

The primary cause of lead's toxicity is its interference with a variety of enzymes because it binds to sulfhydryl groups found on many enzymes.[22] Part of lead's toxicity results from its ability to mimic other metals that take part in biological processes ... Among the essential metals that lead displaces in this way are calcium, iron, and zinc.[186]

The brain is the organ most sensitive to lead exposure.[77] Lead can pass through the endothelial cells at the blood brain barrier because it can substitute for calcium ions and be taken up by calcium-ATPase pumps.[203]

The targeting of NMDA receptors is thought to be one of the main causes for lead's toxicity to neurons.[202]

The half-life of lead in bone has been estimated as years to decades, and bone can introduce lead into the bloodstream long after the initial exposure is gone.[182][183][184] The half-life of lead in the blood in men is about 40 days, but it may be longer in children and pregnant women, whose bones are undergoing remodeling, which allows the lead to be continuously re-introduced into the bloodstream.[26]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning

Stainless steel is generally considered to be biologically inert. However, during cooking, small amounts of nickel and chromium leach out of new stainless steel cookware into highly acidic food.[115] Nickel can contribute to cancer risks—particularly lung cancer and nasal cancer.[116][117] However, no connection between stainless steel cookware and cancer has been established.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

Lead is very different in its toxicity. Chromium is not nearly as toxic, and in fact trivalent chromium is an essebtial nutrient:

Trivalent chromium is a trace mineral that is essential to human nutrition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromium_toxicity

Of course wikipedia isn't an official source, but almost all statement's link to reliable sources

[–] saigot@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Chromium is only dangerous (in reasonable quantities) when its Hexavalent (meaning it has 6 missing electrons). Trivalent chromium (3 missing electrons) is actually essential in trace amounts. Stainless steel has trivalent chromium. Exposure to high temperatures (welding, plasma cutting, maybe grinding) can oxidize it from trivalent to hexavalent but your kitchen utensils aren't going to be exposed to that. I'm not an expert though to be clear.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hypothetically... Would doing hot knives of hash create enough heat to to so?

[–] saigot@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

I am not a doctor, I just find steel interesting. I also prefer leaf to hash. but I think it's going to take more than 1000C to create the fumes osha is mainly concerned about, which would make the steel yellow with heat, Even for welders it's the sort of thing that should concern only people who do it professionally. That said you are kinda directly huffing whatever is coming off it (hypothetically of course). If it's getting red hot, then it might still be having some oxidation, but it probably isn't getting into your lungs and it probably is going to stay put in the metal, Probably....

If it's not glowing at all you are definitely good.

[–] Johanno@feddit.org 3 points 3 days ago

Well did you die?

Also an alloy can be sth completely different