Imperialism – The Episodic Table of Elements

29. Copper: Wires Crossed

January 14, 2019

6:00 am

4 Comments on 29. Copper: Wires Crossed

Podcast, Site News

Communications, Douglass Houghton, Electricity, Erie Canal, Geography, Geology, Imperialism, Medicine, Michigan, Mining, Numismatics, Ohio, Painting, Samuel Morse, Stevens T. Mason, Sweden, Toledo

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We get lost in the woods with a couple of little guys in today’s episode, and learn about a lesser-known American Civil War.

Continue reading “29. Copper: Wires Crossed” →

19. Potassium: An Undeserved Reputation

August 20, 2018

6:00 am

1 Comment on 19. Potassium: An Undeserved Reputation

Bananas, Biology, Botany, China, Gunpowder, Imperialism, Industrial Revolution, Poisons, Salts, South America

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

There’s no avoiding discussing the banana in this episode, even though it really doesn’t deserve its strong association with Element 19.

Continue reading “19. Potassium: An Undeserved Reputation” →

15. Phosphorus: Dealing With The Devil

June 11, 2018

6:00 am

Leave a comment on 15. Phosphorus: Dealing With The Devil

Adenosine Triphosphate, Alchemy, Allotropes, Annie Besant, Biology, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, Cosmetics, England, Germany, Guano, Hennig Brand, Illumination, Imperialism, Labor, Matches, Satan, World War II

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The history of phosphorus is largely a tale of people getting their hands dirty. Very, very dirty.

Continue reading “15. Phosphorus: Dealing With The Devil” →

11. Sodium: What’s In Na?

April 16, 2018

6:00 am

3 Comments on 11. Sodium: What’s In Na?

Alchemy, Atomic Bonding, Basilius Valentinus, Biology, England, Etymology, Germany, Humphry Davy, Illumination, Imperialism, Ions, Jons Jacob Berzelius, Salts, Theodore Gray

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Turns out ancient sages and seers might’ve actually known a thing or two. Also, is there a good reason for sodium’s chemical symbol? Na.

Continue reading “11. Sodium: What’s In Na?” →