Allen Cardoza and Dr. Melody Foxx discussed the Periodic Table with author Sam Kean on L.A. Talk Radio.
One of humankind's crowning scientific achievements, the Periodic Table is also a story of obsession, betrayal, adventure, and passion. Madness and romantic love play a role in the story of the Periodic Table. Discovering the various elements of the Periodic Table changed both scientific understanding and the history of the world.
Although this is the same chart you remember from high school, "The Disappearing Spoon," enlivens it with bizarre stories about every single element. Sam Kean has captured funny and spooky stories about the Periodic Table.
Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium (Cd, 48)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why did tellurium (Te, 52) lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?
One of our crowning scientific achievements,The Periodic Table also has an extensive back story. "The Disappearing Spoon" captures many fascinating tales associated with carbon, neon, silicon, gold, and every single element on the table. These elements affected human history, finance, mythology, the arts, and medicine. They also affected the lives of the scientists who discovered them, many of them quite mad.
By reading "The Disappearing Spoon," you will discover why a dash of lithium (Li, 3) helped cure poet Robert Lowell from insanity. You will also learn why Gallium (Ga, 31) was the famous element used by scientifically-minded pranksters. The Periodic Table has affected everything, from the theory about the Big Bang to theories about the end of time. "The Disappearing Spoon" offers many surprising insights. It is a fusion of science and the classic lore associated with invention, investigation, discovery, and alchemy.
Incidentally, though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal with a unique property-it melts at 84 degrees F. A classic prank for scientists is to fashion gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch as guests recoil when the Earl Grey eats their utensil.
One of humankind's crowning scientific achievements, the Periodic Table is also a story of obsession, betrayal, adventure, and passion. Madness and romantic love play a role in the story of the Periodic Table. Discovering the various elements of the Periodic Table changed both scientific understanding and the history of the world.
Although this is the same chart you remember from high school, "The Disappearing Spoon," enlivens it with bizarre stories about every single element. Sam Kean has captured funny and spooky stories about the Periodic Table.
Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium (Cd, 48)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why did tellurium (Te, 52) lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?
One of our crowning scientific achievements,The Periodic Table also has an extensive back story. "The Disappearing Spoon" captures many fascinating tales associated with carbon, neon, silicon, gold, and every single element on the table. These elements affected human history, finance, mythology, the arts, and medicine. They also affected the lives of the scientists who discovered them, many of them quite mad.
By reading "The Disappearing Spoon," you will discover why a dash of lithium (Li, 3) helped cure poet Robert Lowell from insanity. You will also learn why Gallium (Ga, 31) was the famous element used by scientifically-minded pranksters. The Periodic Table has affected everything, from the theory about the Big Bang to theories about the end of time. "The Disappearing Spoon" offers many surprising insights. It is a fusion of science and the classic lore associated with invention, investigation, discovery, and alchemy.
Incidentally, though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal with a unique property-it melts at 84 degrees F. A classic prank for scientists is to fashion gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch as guests recoil when the Earl Grey eats their utensil.
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Want to find out more about The Disappearing Spoon?, then visit Allen Cardoza's site on how to listen to the fascinating interview with Sam Kean.