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The Periodic Problem

Curious Cases Rutherford and Fry

How do you discover a new chemical element? Science sleuths Drs Rutherford and Fry investigate. From April 2019.

"Will the periodic table ever be complete?" asks Philip Craven on Twitter.

In 2016 four new chemical elements were given the official stamp of approval - nihonium, moscovium, tennessine, and oganesson. And 2019 was named by the UN as the International Year of the Periodic Table.

In this episode, Hannah and Adam dive into the test tubes of history to hear why the first element was discovered in boiled urine, why chips don't explode and how a cancelled trip to a cheese factory resulted in the creation of the periodic table.

We'll hear from Dawn Shaughnessy from Lawrence Livermore National Lab, part of the team that discovered the latest 'superheavy' elements. Science writer Philip Ball shows Adam around Humphry Davy's lab equipment at the Royal Institution of Great Britain and Jim Al-Khalili explains why scientists are eager to reach the Island of Stability.

Presenters: Adam Rutherford, Hannah Fry
Producer: Michelle Martin

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in April 2019.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 13 Jan 2022 21:45
大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra

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The Growling StomachRutherford and Fry

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Two Infinities and Beyond - part 1Rutherford and Fry

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Broadcasts

  • Wed 10 Apr 2019 09:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sat 13 Apr 2019 05:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 9 Jan 2022 10:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 9 Jan 2022 21:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 13 Jan 2022 11:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 13 Jan 2022 21:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra

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