27. Cobalt: Mischief Managed

Cobalt is a tricksy little element, which means the scientists who’ve dealt with it the most are some of the cleverest people to have ever walked the Earth.

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23. Vanadium: Beauty In The Background

From freeways to firefights to unfathomable depths, vanadium can often be found quietly doing the hardest work.

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22. Titanium: Dignity Over Dentures

Titanium is an element valued as much for its beauty as its strength — provided you can find a genuine sample of the stuff.

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20. Calcium: Stone and Bone

Stories of turning flesh to stone — and vice versa — are common in mythology. With calcium, we see how those same transitions can happen in the real world.

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