this is nothing to do with astronomy or anything currently being discussed for that matter, but it's something that's been bugging the whatsits out of me since it happened a few weeks ago.
The setting is far from remarkable; I was in the kitchen and opened the cupboard under the bench to reach down for a dinner plate.
I got hold of a plate as I have done millions of times before, but this time as I lifted the plate from the top of the stack to place it on the bench surface, the strangest thing happened.
A pungent unpleasant smell, accompanied a very clearly visible wisp of 'smoke', followed the plate out of the cupboard. It was so out of pace that I was immediately shocked. The wisp of smoke was big enough that I was concerned that there was a fire in the cupboard, except that the smell wasn't a fire smoke smell, and of course there was no fire. There was nothing in there except more plates and stuff.
All I can say about the smell is that it was pungent and strong, and unlike anything I've smelled before so I can't really describe it further.
The whole thing lasted about 7 to 10 seconds during which time the smoke seemed to just hover around, before finally the smoke and the smell just fizzled out.
There must be a simple explanation, but I don't know what it is. Does anyone have any ideas without wanting to waste too much of your time?
Check for black or blue-green fungal blooms - often grow on bottom of stacked wet crockery. Moving can erupt the spores and associated odour (depending on species, can be an awful stench).
Yep. Lewis is right. It's fungal.
Some species actually expel spores spontaneously as a form of propagation. Others explode in a cloud of spores if disturbed. The first thing I'd check is whether you have any moist areas in or around the cupboard in question. Other possibility is plates being put away while still damp could just provide an environment conducive to fungal growth.
Peter
Wow Lewis and Peter - that's amazing guys. I'll cancel the exorcism then, lol.
I knew someone here would know.
didn't think we were putting stuff away damp, but it does come out of a dishwasher that isn't always great at drying. It hasn't happened before or since, but that sounds like the most likely explanation.
Thanks again guys, - problem solvered in all likelihood
I think Lewis has your answer I had a similar experience years ago but I saw the culprit if I had not it would have not been explainable, unless I asked here of course.
Alex
Do check well - if it is black mold, it could be Aspergillus niger, which is disease causative, or in certain strains, toxic. It could also be Stachybotrys which unfortunately isn't much better.
Do check well - if it is black mold, it could be Aspergillus niger, which is disease causative, or in certain strains, toxic. It could also be Stachybotrys which unfortunately isn't much better.
Hi Lewis,
I certainly did check yesterday. I pulled out everything from the shelf in question and not surprisingly, since my Mrs is a clean-freak, there was no sign of anything untoward mold-wise, - or anything else-wise in fact.
So although the mold explanation sounds the most feasible under certain conditions, the reality is that the cupboard is just a normal clean dry cupboard that seems safe enough to crockery etc.
There's still something of a mystery attached to this event imo - though I have no alternative theories to offer.
I certainly did check yesterday. I pulled out everything from the shelf in question and not surprisingly, since my Mrs is a clean-freak, there was no sign of anything untoward mold-wise, - or anything else-wise in fact.
So although the mold explanation sounds the most feasible under certain conditions, the reality is that the cupboard is just a normal clean dry cupboard that seems safe enough to crockery etc.
There's still something of a mystery attached to this event imo - though I have no alternative theories to offer.
There's no denying the smoke looked wispy like that. But it came from between two perfectly flat-stacked dinner plates. There was no sign of any beetle or anything else, and the wisp of smoke followed the plate as I took it out of the cupboard.
I know it sounds daft, but the cupboard and the plates were dry and there weren't any beetles or anything else living in there - either before or since.
You seem to be very curious to find the cause and I think I would also. So re-enact what you did. This may identify if it was a property of the crockery itself (although the smell you describe probably wouldn't fit this scenario).
Perhaps you already have?
The local climatic conditions may need to be similar or exactly the same.
You seem to be very curious to find the cause and I think I would also. So re-enact what you did. This may identify if it was a property of the crockery itself (although the smell you describe probably wouldn't fit this scenario).
Perhaps you already have?
The local climatic conditions may need to be similar or exactly the same.
Hey Craig,
well yes I am I suppose.
It was just plain spooky. The smoke and smell lasting long enough to get me frazzled and looking round for the fire extinguisher - before realising that the smell wasn't 'fire' smoke but something completely different.
Then the smoke and smell disappeared after which I quickly stuck my head in the cupboard looking for the fire or whatever. But there was nothing. It was just plain spooky, - no other words to describe it.
The crockery is the same stuff we've used and put in and out of the cupboard a million times before and since without any of this jiggery pokery happening.
The various attempts at rational explanations here - beetles and fungi - I don't think hold any sway since I'd have seen anything untoward when I looked in the cupboard immediately afterwards.
So for the moment, there seems to be no logical explanation.
Check for black or blue-green fungal blooms - often grow on bottom of stacked wet crockery. Moving can erupt the spores and associated odour (depending on species, can be an awful stench).
