Short Wave This Navy vet helped discover a new, super-heavy element
7 snips
Mar 1, 2023 Clarice Phelps, a nuclear chemist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, shares her inspiring journey from Navy veteran to scientist. She discusses her role in the discovery of Tennessine, one of the heaviest elements, and the rigorous experiments that led to it. Clarice highlights the emotional impact of this achievement, particularly for young girls in science. With a mix of passion and humor, she reflects on the collaborative efforts in science and the importance of encouraging future generations to explore the wonders of the periodic table.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Unconventional Path to Science
- Clarice Phelps's path to science wasn't straightforward.
- After college and the Navy, she became a nuclear chemist.
Recreating the Early Universe
- Scientists create heavy elements to understand the early universe.
- These elements, long decayed, offer clues to its origins.
Creating New Elements
- Creating new elements involves slamming two existing elements together.
- If their atomic numbers sum to the desired number, a new element may form.