Chemistry in its Element

  • Man in protective clothing looking at fluorescing DNA slide
    Podcast

    Ethidium bromide

    27 January 2016

    Kat Arney shines a light on the fluorescent DNA marker

  • Man welding
    Podcast

    Calcium carbide

    19 January 2016

    Michael Freemantle tells us of discovery that lit the homes and put the food on the table of millions of people

  • A rhinoceros
    Podcast

    Ectoparasiticides

    13 January 2016

    Martha Henriques explains how compounds developed to keep parasites at bay may be protecting rhinos from poachers

  • Yellowstone national park
    Podcast

    Taq Polymerase

    16 December 2015

    Kat Arney reveals how high temperature bacteria provide us with the molecule that speeds up DNA sequencing

  • A molecule of ubiquitin
    Podcast

    Ubiquitin

    9 December 2015

    Kiki Sanford examines the molecule that holds the balance between life and death

  • A nurse tends to a World War I victim
    Podcast

    Diethyl ether

    2 December 2015

    Michael Freemantle awakens us to the history of diethyl ether

  • Manganese dioxide
    Podcast

    Manganese dioxide

    25 November 2015

    Brian Clegg paints a picture of a compound found in ancient cave paintings and top-of-the-range electronics: Manganese dioxide

  • Old engraving of workers making mercury fulminate
    Podcast

    Mercury fulminate, Hg(CNO)2

    18 November 2015

    Michael Freemantle examines the explosive history and chemistry of mercury fulminate

  • Podcast

    Zirconium tungstate

    11 November 2015

    Generally, things get bigger as they get hotter. Neil Withers examines one of the exceptions – zirconium tungstate

  • Formula 1 pitstop
    Podcast

    Toluene

    4 November 2015

    There’s more to toluene than TNT, as Brian Clegg reveals