X: A to Z Blogging Challenge

For my 2016 A to Z Challenge, I’m sharing three facts for each letter. The genres I write and love to read are mostly science fiction and high or epic fantasy. In fantasy, there is often magic associated with crystals or metals. They also used herbs both for medicine and for magical spells. Each day I will post a short description of an herb or a mineral you might find in medieval or fantasy writings. For the record, most of the herbal remedies I’ve investigated are not recommended by the FDA. Many are actually poisonous and dangerous. As tribute to my second love, I will post a scientific fact that may deal with physics, biology or health science. And because another name for a writer is wordsmith, each day I’ll share a strange word that I would probably never use in my writing, but that amuse me in some way. So enjoy my trio of quick facts. And don’t forget to visit the IWSG site where we’ll share a writer’s resource for every day of the challenge.

Xanthic: Relating to or tending toward yellow.

Xi Jiao is Rhinoceros Horn, a Chinese powder made from the horn of an endangered animal. The rhino is spiraling toward extinction as poachers hunt them for their horns. It's horribly, unbelievable that such a thing happens in our modern world. Chinese herbalists sell this to treat convulsions and other illnesses. Some reports say a Vietnamese buyer might pay as much as $300,000 for a single horn that they believe cures cancer and hangovers.

Xenon is one of the noble gases. It is found in trace amounts in our atmosphere. NASA has developed a Xenon Ion Drive Engine.

Can you think of a way to save the rhinos? How might you use that Xenon Ion Drive? Or can you base your own idea on it? Only two letters to go? Are you keeping up?

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." Confucius