Ricin is a protein produced by the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, which is highly toxic (the minimal lethal dose is around 1 µg / kg body weight, that means 1/15th of a milligram could kill a 150 lb. person). Ricin can be a dangerous contaminant, making the production of castor oil a precisely controlled process.

Next 5 Fascinating Facts

• The United States produces 3,145,892,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every ...
• One tonne of uranium produces the same ...
• The first puck ever used in a professional ...
• Wrigley's promoted their new spearmint-flavored chewing gum in 1915 by ...
• The first book published in the United States was ...

Previous 5 Fascinating Facts

• Prior to 1907, when the United States started mass production of asphalt from crude oil, the roads were paved from ...
• The first woman to run for President was Victoria ...
• That white, powdery stuff on the wings of ...
• The only President in office to weigh ...
• A ton of potatoes will yield 28.6 gallons of absolute ...