In Their Element

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Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Scientists tell stories of the elements, explaining how chemistry made the modern world.

Scientists tell the stories of different elements, explaining why these well-known substances matter for chemistry and also for the development of modern civilisation.

In Their Element: Series 4: Aluminium

Aluminium

Series 4

BBC Radio 4 - In Their Element, Series 4, Aluminium

Chemist Andrea Sella celebrates how the element aluminium enhances our lives.

Andrea Sella, Professor of Chemistry at UCL, picks five elements that enhance our lives. Today it's aluminium, once fashionable as cutlery but now used in cans, bicycles and tinsel

At the time of Emperor Napoleon the Third aluminium was more valuable than gold and silver. The Emperor liked the metal so much he had his cutlery made out of it. But once a cheaper way was discovered to extract aluminium it began to be used for all kinds of objects, from aeroplanes to coffee pots. Andrea Sella, Professor Inorganic Chemistry, talks to Professor Mark Miodownik at the Institute of Making at UCL about why aluminium is such a useful material, from keeping crisps crisp to  the tinsel on our Christmas trees. Andrea visits the Science Museum where he admires an aluminium plane of the class flown by Amelia Earhart. And he talks about the lightness of bicycles made from aluminium with Keith Noronha, of Reynolds Technology.

In Their Element: Series 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Andrea Sella, Professor of Chemistry at UCL, on five elements that enhance our lives.

In the 150th anniversary year of the publication of Mendeleev's Periodic Table, Professor of Chemistry at UCL Andrea Sella celebrates five elements that enhance our lives.

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In Their Element

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