Uranium-based nuclear reactors rely on the isotope uranium-235 to make energy. Currently, there is far more uranium-238 (146 neutrons) than 235 (143 neutrons) in naturally occurring ore, where the isotopes vary greatly in their stability. Therefore, uranium goes through a process of enrichment to extract the U-235, since this isotope makes up only about .72% …
Continue reading “Ancient Natural Nuclear Reactor – How Did it Work?”
Every semester my students read a wonderful book called “The Poison Squad” by Deborah Blum, a book about the fight for food safety legislation in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. But to me, as I read the book along with them, “The Poison Squad” is about far more than food …
Continue reading “Who Was Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley? Ode to a Hero”
When considering humanity’s effects on our planet, it always seems like there is a serious impact coming from a relatively unexpected sector. One human activity that is an unexpectedly high source of greenhouse gas emissions is the production of concrete. Cement is the main ingredient in concrete, and its manufacturing process produces a substantial amount …
Continue reading “Concrete from Algae: A Greener Foundation”
If you look at the periodic table, you’ll see four elements that have rather similar names: Yttrium (Y), Erbium (Er), Terbium (Tb), and Ytterbium (Yb). This is not just a coincidence; all four of these elements were discovered in a mine in a place called Ytterby. Pronounced itter-bee, this Swedish village is found on an …
Continue reading “Trivia Time: The Swedish Island of Ytterby”
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