The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean (audiobook)

Science reporter Sam Kean takes the periodic table of the elements and tells the intriguing story behind each. You'll learn why silver is not a good choice for vitamin supplement (it discolors the skin permanently), how copper pipes fight infectious bacteria, the history behind radiation and x-rays from 1895 on, the invention of the transistor from silicon, and how various elements were discovered to be poisonous (to the chagrin of the discoverers.) Along the way are connections to world and American history, politics, and the Nobel prizes. It's an engaging foray into what constitutes real science, and the consequences of ignorance, ably narrated by actor Sean Runnette. The title refers to a practical joke involving making a spoon out of gallium, which has a low melting point, so when the victim put the spoon into a cup of hot tea, the spoon "vanished." Order from http://towerreview.com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• x-rays
• science
• burj review
• elements
• nobel prize
• sean runnette
• tantor media
• radium
• radiation
• history

[pyrotechnics100]

Great book plan on buying and finding or more about it