Today's afternoon links, featuring a very Cthulhu and chemistry Christmas, plus a fat cat in Russia who will stare into your very soul.

Burn HIV with lava in this Mad Science Friday.

Three weeks ago, workers at Port Arthur, Texas, were fixing the central pipe network of an oil refinery.

Back in the day, people used to believe there was life on Mars because they saw canals on the planet through telescopes.

Could be.

Good news, everyone.

So, remember the periodic table.