Some scientists claim - although these claims are contentious - that they can form deadly isomers with simple X-rays and that hafnium can multiply the power of these X-rays to an astounding degree, converting them into gamma rays up to 250 times more potent than the X-rays. Sam Kean astoundclaimcontentious share on social
Many different elements can form isomers, but only a few elements on the periodic table, like hafnium, can form isomers that last more than fractions of a second - and might therefore be turned into weapons. Sam Kean elementformfraction share on social
The brain, which is plastic when young, must be exposed to certain sights early in life, or it will remain blind to those sights forever. Sam Kean blindbrainearly Change image and share on social
The grand saga of how humans spread across the globe will need some amendments and annotations - rendezvous here, elopements there, and the commingling of genes most everywhere. Sam Kean amendmentannotationcommingle Change image and share on social
Despite the disreputable company it keeps, bismuth is harmless. In fact, it's medicinal: Doctors prescribe it to soothe ulcers, and it's the 'bis' in hot-pink Pepto-Bismol. Overall, it seems like the most out-of-place element on the periodic table, a gentleman among scoundrels. Sam Kean bismolbismuthcompany share on social
Scientists didn't discover the noble gas helium - the second most common element in the universe - on Earth until 1895. And they thought it existed in minute quantities only, until miners found a huge underground cache in Kansas in 1903. Sam Kean cachecommondiscover share on social
I'm kind of a sucker for the retro-diagnoses. Sam Kean diagnosekindretro Change image and share on social
I think it's a natural human tendency, when you read something, you tend to read a lot of your prejudices into it. And neuroscience is like a lot of disciplines - it has fashions; things change. Sam Kean changedisciplinefashion Change image and share on social
I didn't mind staying home from school and medicating myself with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Being sick always gave me another chance to break an old-fashioned mercury thermometer, too. Sam Kean breakchancechocolate Change image and share on social
Without a functioning hippocampus, names, dates, and other information falls straight through the mind like a sieve. Sam Kean datefallfunction Change image and share on social
