elements

Video: It’s “element”ary, my dear Watson—International Year of the Periodic Table is here!

By Lisa McDonald / January 23, 2019

The United Nations proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. Take a look at what we know about the table and what could happen in the future.

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It’s elemental: Science and stories of gallium and the Periodic Table

By April Gocha / February 2, 2018

Gallium is an interesting and incredibly useful element with a storied history—watch this short video from ACS Reactions to learn more about this interesting element, and some of the history of the Periodic Table itself.

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Video: Even an industrial steamroller can’t break this nearly indestructible ceramic

By April Gocha / October 4, 2017

There are many elements critical to today’s technology that are in danger of running out—and they’re the subject of a fascinating new BBC TV documentary called “Secrets of the Super Elements” hosted by Mark Miodownik.

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What’s really inside your smartphone: A pile of raw minerals and serious social consequences

By April Gocha / August 22, 2017

According to a laboratory compositional analysis, the elemental recipe for a 129-g Apple iPhone includes about 24.1% aluminum, 15.4% carbon, 14.4% iron, and 14.5% oxygen by weight. And altogether, that pile of smartphone powder—ground from a $700 device—has a raw elemental value of about $1.03.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / June 15, 2016

Nanoparticles dance, concentrating solar power, four new elements named, and other materials stories that may be of interest for June 15, 2016.

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Green mining technique uses photosynthesis to extract semiconductor germanium from soil

By April Gocha / September 30, 2015

Scientists at Germany’s Freiberg University of Mining and Technology have figured out that they don’t have to dig up the earth to extract the semiconductor germanium—they can make plants do the work for them.

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Radioactive ceramics: Unearthing rare earths reveals heavy environmental impact of today’s tech

By April Gocha / April 21, 2015

A group of architects, designers, writers, reporters, and thinkers called the Unknown Fields Division have traveled the world and are now pulling back the curtain to show the toxic story lurking behind rare earth production.

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Video: How the elements got their names

By April Gocha / March 14, 2014

Joe Hanson, host of the PBS series “It’s Okay to Be Smart,” rhymes through the names behind elements of the Periodic Table.

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