The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?
The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.
Though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal that melts at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A classic science prank is to mold gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch guests recoil as their utensils disappear.
Sam Kean is the author of The Story of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, The Disappearing Spoon, and The Violinist's Thumb, all of which were selected top scientific books of the year by Amazon. The Disappearing Spoon was a finalist for the Royal Society of London's book of the year award in 2010, while The Violinist's Thumb and The Story of the Dueling Neurosurgeons were both shortlisted for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Award. In 2013 and 2015, he won the Wilson Award for poetic science writing, as well as the AAAS/Subaru Prize. His work has been featured on NPR's Radiolab, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air, as well as in The Best American Nature and Science Writing, the Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times magazine, Psychology Today, Slate, Mental Floss, and other publications.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780316051637 |
| ISBN 10 | 0316051632 |
| Title | The Disappearing Spoon |
| Author | Sam Kean |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Little, Brown & Company |
| Year published | 2011-06-06 |
| Number of pages | 416 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |