What Is Glitter? • Hacker News Board

Re: What Is Glitter?

#51

Post by tomcam » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:06 PM UTC

kingbirdy wrote: post #37

code_duck wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the answer was given in the article as Revlon. Nail polish, eyeshadow, lipstick, blush... all can contain micro glitter particles. I wonder, what is the total surface area painted by cosmetics each year?

That's hardly secretive or unexpected, though - everyone knows cosmetics contain glitter

I didn’t. Had I considered it I would have assumed that at least in the US regulations would prohibit its inclusion.

Re: What Is Glitter?

#52

Post by lucb1e » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:12 PM UTC

I'm curious what the answer to the title is but "aluminum metalized polyethylene terephthalate" doesn't exactly help me. Aluminium, okay, but what is the rest? The article goes on and on and on, rambling about how everyone likes it just like we once hunted for honey, what company it originated at, what kind of word it even is... thousands of words for a couple of interesting bits of information. This either needs a summary or some more concise writing.

Re: What Is Glitter?

#53

Post by knodi123 » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:14 PM UTC

foobarian wrote: post #36

ruddct wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currency is my favorite theory from this (and would explain the extreme secrecy). Take a look inside your wallet, it's probably a little glittery. (Related: For those who enjoyed the photos in this article, make sure to follow the photographer's Instagram, it's incredible. https://www.instagram.com/chrismaggio/ )

I thought defense would be another likely user. Chaff would use huge quantities of it.

Chaff is a little different. For instance, most glitter is plastic, and plastic wouldn't do any good against radar. Here's what it really looks like:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Usnchaff...

Re: What Is Glitter?

#54

Post by anigbrowl » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:22 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #23

> I have no idea how humans figured out how to do that, or why it occurred to them to even try, but it sounds expensive. I had to check this wasn't Dave Barry writing. Anyway, this seems to have genuinely been a space age invetion, aluminised mylar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BoPET (There is no item of "futuristic clothing" that pins a piece of visual SF to a particular point in history in the 1960s quite like thi…

This made sense in theory, but how could aluminum go from being not on the film to being on the film without at least some Scotch tape? “They evaporate aluminum and deposit it on it,” said Mr. Shetty. This made sense in theory, but how could aluminum be evaporated? “It’s a very, very thin layer. They put it in a vacuum chamber, then evaporate the aluminum,” said Mr. Shetty. “With heat,” his son added. “What are they evaporating out of it?” I asked. “Aluminum,” said Mr. Shetty. I have no idea how humans figured out how to do that, or why it occurred to them to even try, but it sounds expensive.

What's worse, the lack of understanding of high school science among journalists (Boyle's law and elements changing state are very basic chemistry) or the the lack of communication skills among scientists?

Re: What Is Glitter?

#55

Post by djsumdog » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:24 PM UTC

dangban wrote: post #3

Whatever it may be, it's likely not safe for living things to breathe-in or to eat.

I was wondering about that too: the safety considering how secretive manufacturers were.

Intuitively, I'd think the particles are just too large to be a considerable risk. The photo of the man wearing a mask is because they're around it all day every day (+ OSHA I'm sure), but I'm sure people have though the same thing about asbestos or pink fibreglass insulation.

Re: What Is Glitter?

#56

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:24 PM UTC

ken wrote: post #27

cperciva wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the answer was right in the article: Automotive paint. They've got a lot of surface area to cover, and car companies want their vehicles to shine.

I don't think automotive manufacturers would be worried about people knowing that their shiny paint contains glitter. Also, there are a lot of cars in the world, but most just get painted once. My first guess would be a consumable. Maybe food-related, where we don't expect (or want) glitter. The "toothpaste" guess sounds like it's on the right track. "Fast food" wouldn't entirely surprise me, either.

[deleted]

Re: What Is Glitter?

#57

Post by djsumdog » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:25 PM UTC

ineedasername wrote: post #26

egwynn wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean like almost every other popular art supply?

Eh, yeah, unfortunately... the arts have a long history of using some very toxic substances. In their defense it wasn't always known at the time.

I wonder how many common art and cosmetic materials would be approved if they came on the market today.

Re: What Is Glitter?

#58

Post by ravenstine » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:39 PM UTC

If you enjoyed that article, you might appreciate an episode of Forensic Files titled "All That Glitters is Gold" where an crime was solved by forensic analysis of glitter.

Apparently, glitter is not as generic as one might think! And, there are glitter collectors.

Re: What Is Glitter?

#59

Post by alexandercrohde » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:41 PM UTC

For those unaware, phthalates are linked to decreased testosterone and potentially other health effects. 1

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate#Endocrine_disruption

Re: What Is Glitter?

#60

Post by peter303 » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 11:47 PM UTC

Previously they used pulverized mica. Mylar is cheaper and more manageable.