Element Discovery
9/9/202518 min
Scientists are still adding to the periodic table and expanding what we know about matter. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, researchers are creating entirely new elements that can’t be found in nature and exist for only moments. In this episode, we step into the world of superheavy element discovery to understand how these rare atoms are made, why they matter, and what they can teach us about the building blocks of the universe.
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Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced by Levi Hanusch.
Sound Design, Mus...
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 0· Host0:00
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is hiring. If you're passionate about tackling real-world challenges in science, engineering, business, or skilled trades, there's a place for you at the lab. Right now, positions are open for a senior labor relations advocate, operations cybersecurity manager, and a senior database administrator. These are just a few of the more than 100 exciting roles available. At Lawrence Livermore, you'll work on projects that matter, from national security to cutting-edge scientific advancements. Join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Explore opportunities at llnl.gov/careers, where your next career move could make history. You're standing in your kitchen, and you reach for that little white shaker, the stuff we sprinkle into everything from pasta water to roasted vegetables to soup, salt.
Roger Henderson· Guest1:07
Are you a salt-aholic? Do you think- Inside that pinch of salt is a chemistry paradox hiding in plain sight.
Speaker 0· Host1:15
[upbeat music] Salt is made from sodium, a soft metal so reactive it can catch fire when it touches water.
Roger Henderson· Guest1:24
In its elemental form, sodium will be highly reactive, and you will deeply