And then there was Li
From the origins of the universe, though batteries, glass and grease to influencing the working of our brains, Neuroscientist Sophie Scott tracks the incredible power of Lithium.
From the origins of the universe, though batteries, glass and grease to influencing the working of our brains, neuroscientist Sophie Scott tracks the incredible power of lithium.
It's 200 years ago this year that lithium was first isolated and named, but this, the lightest of all metals, had been used as a drug for centuries before.
From the industrial revolution it proves its worth as a key ingredient in glass and grease, and as the major component in lithium ion batteries it powers every smartphone on the planet.
In mental health lithium has proved one of the most effective treatments. And its use to treat physical ailments is now making a comeback.
We explore how the chemistry of lithium links all these apparently unrelated uses together.
Main Image: Lights from mobile phones in Bucharest on February, 2017. Credit: ANDREI PUNGOVSCHI / AFP / Getty Images )
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Mon 7 Aug 2017 19:32GMT大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
- Tue 8 Aug 2017 02:32GMT大象传媒 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 8 Aug 2017 04:32GMT大象传媒 World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Tue 8 Aug 2017 06:32GMT大象传媒 World Service East and Southern Africa
- Tue 8 Aug 2017 13:32GMT大象传媒 World Service Australasia
- Sun 13 Aug 2017 01:32GMT大象传媒 World Service except News Internet
Space
The eclipses, spacecraft and astronauts changing our view of the Universe
The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry
A pair of scientific sleuths answer your perplexing questions. Ask them anything!
Podcast
-
![]()
Discovery
Explorations in the world of science.
