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  • TUESDAY APRIL 24 2007 11:00 PM

Kryptonite Real, Nerds Rejoice



Maybe this explains why Superman Returns flopped so hard. Scientists in Serbia have discovered a new mineral that has the same chemical make up as fictional alien substance Kryptonite. As lovers of DC comic books and Ned Beatty movies worldwide are aware, Kryptonite is Superman’s only weakness, aside from the sometimes plodding direction of Bryan Singer. Made up of radioactive particles from Superman’s home world Krypton, they were spread throughout the galaxy when the planet exploded shortly after Superman’s birth.

Evidently, Kryptonite has been discovered in the real world, to the delight of comic book-savvy journalists worldwide. Dig this news lede from Scientific American:

The collective laughter of Lex Luthor, Brainiac and a host of other DC Comics villains was heard reverberating throughout Metropolis this morning, according to the Daily Planet.



That's what it looks like when nerdy superhero loving writers own it. The writer is clearly an awesome comic book nerd – he even makes a reference to obscure Marvel Comics metal Adamantium. I’ll bet he was psyched to not have to write carbon footprints and whatnot.

Anyway, back to the science. After a new mineral was found in a Serbia, Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum was charged with analyzing it. In his research into the element, he realized its chemical signature, sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide, was the same as the chemical make up of Kryptonite in a scene in Superman Returns.

While the chemical make up of the newly discovered mineral, officially named Jadarite, is pretty much the same as Kryptonite, Brandon Routh has nothing to worry about.

“The new mineral does not contain fluorine and is white rather than green, but in all other respects the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite. We will have to be careful with it – we wouldn’t want to deprive Earth of its most famous superhero!” Dr Stanley added.

 

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Comments
wenis

wenis

San Francisco, CA
July 2006

APR 24, 2007 11:14 PM

and yet they are making a sequel puke
this news is pretty cool.
now how can i use this to take over the world.
muahahahahaha ARRR!!!

Dru_Id

Dru_Id

Florence, SC
October 2006

APR 24, 2007 11:15 PM

Wenis u must remember evil overlord rule # 20: Despite its proven stress-relieving effect, I will not indulge in maniacal laughter. When so occupied, it's too easy to miss unexpected developments that a more attentive individual could adjust to accordingly.

all this proves that all scientists were comic book nerds growing up.

and that I'm a bigger one for knowing that there has never been white kryptonite in any version of superman

just
blue, silver, black, green, red and gold

and whats even sader is i know what each of them does as well

MAN I'm a geek

NathanialBlood

NathanialBlood

United Kingdom
August 2006

APR 24, 2007 11:26 PM

Don't worry about that everyone who has watched the last 5 seasons of Smallville knows as much about the big K as you do

Flawedhero

Flawedhero

Suwanee, GA
October 2006

APR 24, 2007 11:33 PM

Last I checked, Xmen was a popular kids cartoon show a while back and may or may not have been made into a popular movie. I think that would make "adamantium" not-so-obscure, correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyways scientists jokes tend to make me slightly naseaus so I'm going to see my way out puke

BurningKrome

BurningKrome

San Jose, CA
April 2005

APR 24, 2007 11:52 PM

If it's really white, how will we tell the difference between green kryptonite and red kryptonite?!

Also, isn't saying it's kryptonite without the fluorine a little like saying water is just like hydrogen peroxide - but without the extra oxygen? If not, then remind me not to come to your house for tea...

voiceoreason82

voiceoreason82

I'm lost
March 2007

APR 25, 2007 12:05 AM

i'm sorry but i don't think adamantium is obscure. I only watched the cartoons and i know what it is!

Randolph_Carter

Randolph_Carter

San Francisco, CA
June 2004

APR 25, 2007 09:02 AM

FWIW Superman Returns made almost $400 million.

apesamongus

apesamongus

Atlanta, GA
July 2002

APR 25, 2007 09:17 AM

But does it have "tar" in it, that's the important question.

Pwndcake

Pwndcake

Portland, OR
October 2004

APR 25, 2007 09:35 AM

BurningKrome said:
If it's really white, how will we tell the difference between green kryptonite and red kryptonite?!



We'll know Superman is on the white kryptonite when he's up for three days clubbing with transvestite hookers.

Cassiel

Cassiel

Aurora, CO
September 2004

APR 25, 2007 09:45 AM


zoom image

flabajaba2213

flabajaba2213

Plymouth, MA
July 2006

APR 25, 2007 09:46 AM

Flawedhero
Anyways scientists jokes tend to make me slightly naseaus so I'm going to see my way out puke



I used to be a chem major.

So one day, two potassium atoms walk into a bar. One of them says to the bartender, "Excuse me, my good sir. I believe that we might have left an electron here last night." The bartender says, "Are you sure?" To which the atom replies, "Yes, I'm positive."


Wuah wuah wuahahhhhhhh.

penaltyboxvet

penaltyboxvet

USA
August 2006

APR 25, 2007 09:49 AM

I can't say I really rejoiced at this, but if the Green Goblin ever shows up in the skies of a major city I'll be dancing in the streets. wink

Uncle_Screwtape

Uncle_Screwtape

Los Angeles, CA
February 2004

APR 25, 2007 10:18 AM

Neitherspace said:
Wenis u must remember evil overlord rule # 20: Despite its proven stress-relieving effect, I will not indulge in maniacal laughter. When so occupied, it's too easy to miss unexpected developments that a more attentive individual could adjust to accordingly.

all this proves that all scientists were comic book nerds growing up.

and that I'm a bigger one for knowing that there has never been white kryptonite in any version of superman

just
blue, silver, black, green, red and gold

and whats even sader is i know what each of them does as well

MAN I'm a geek



I could swear there was a white K, but I don't remember what it does. I know that gold could permanantly remove his powers, red is unpredictable and blue works only on Bizarros, but I never heard of black or silver, could you enlighten us?

apesamongus

apesamongus

Atlanta, GA
July 2002

APR 25, 2007 10:31 AM

White K kills plants.

Wannie

Wannie

Kingston, ON
March 2004

APR 25, 2007 11:58 AM

BurningKrome said:
Also, isn't saying it's kryptonite without the fluorine a little like saying water is just like hydrogen peroxide - but without the extra oxygen? If not, then remind me not to come to your house for tea...




Haha, I wondered the same thing.

Was this make up of krytonite just created for Superman Returns, or was it established in a comic or previous movie?

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