StarTalk Radio Explosive Science with Kate the Chemist
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Apr 22, 2025 
Kate Biberdorf, known as Kate the Chemist, is a professor at Notre Dame and a passionate science communicator. She joins Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice to explore cosmic chemistry, revealing how cesium tells time and the quest for new stable elements in the periodic table. The trio dives into the fascinating behavior of combustion in microgravity and shares the explosive fun of Mentos and Diet Coke. Kate emphasizes the importance of making science accessible, sprinkling in humor and engaging stories throughout their conversation.
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Safe Chemistry Zone as a Kid
- Kate Biberdorf's mom made one bathroom safe for experiments with non-toxic materials.
- This let Kate explore chemistry safely with items like food coloring and bubble bath.
Why Cesium Reacts Violently
- Cesium reacts violently with oxygen due to its large atomic size and loosely held electrons.
- Oxygen easily steals its electrons, forming ionic salts like cesium oxide and superoxide.
Cesium Powers Atomic Clocks
- Cesium-133 forms the basis of atomic clocks by emitting a reliable frequency when disturbed.
- This frequency precisely defines the length of a second for timekeeping.