silica gel

Definition: Whitish powder or granules used to absorb moisture. * When sealed up in plastic bag it helps reduce humidity of film and equipment kept with it. Don't sniff everything white and powdery The story is told of photographers being held up at check on a remote border because the soldiers would not believe the packets of white powder were for keeping equipment dry and not a certain popular narcotic. Fortunately they simply confiscated the powder. It is said the border soldiers subsequently suffered from very dry noses. (Thank you, Tom Owen-Edmunds, for this frankly tall and wobbly story.)

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