Only in America: The 80th element

Alarmed Florida high school officials lock down their campus when students bring thermometers to school — and more in our collection of strange revelations about the nation

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The 80th element
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A Florida high school went into lockdown after chemistry students brought thermometers to school. Asked to bring in an element from the periodic table, several students brought in thermometers containing mercury. Alarmed school officials, citing the toxicity of mercury, locked 2,200 students in their classes and summoned a hazmat team. "It's almost stupid," said sophomore Kyle Salvaggio.

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