Shotgun Cottage

 

In the spring of 1997, Nathan Zohner, a fourteen-year-old student at Eagle Rock Junior High in Idaho Falls, used his school science fair to warn fellow students about a dangerous chemical. In his report, Nathan outlined the alarming characteristics of this colorless, odorless, tasteless compound which kills thousands of Americans each year. It can cause severe burns while in gas or solid form. It’s a major component of acid rain and often found in tumors of cancer patients. It accelerates corrosion of several metals. Ingesting too much leads to excessive sweating and urination. For those with a dependency on this chemical, Dihydrogen Monoxide, withdrawal leads to death. After giving his presentation, Nathan asked 50 fellow students what should be done. 43 voted to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide – water – from school grounds. He not only won the science fair, but inspired the term Zohnerism: the use of facts to lead an ignorant public to false conclusions.