Hugh Aldersey-Williams on ‘Periodic Tales’

The Takeaway

Remember the periodic table? With its 92 elements and perplexing abbreviations? No doubt, you had to memorize portions of the table back in high school. But beyond high school classes and chemistry jobs, why should we care about the elements? Hugh Aldersey-Williams  has some reasons. He’s the author of the new book “Periodic Tales: The Curious Lives of the Elements.” And his research about the elements says as much about world history and culture as it does about science.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!