Short Wave How Clarice Phelps Put Her Mark On The Periodic Table
Jul 18, 2022
Clarice Phelps, a trailblazing nuclear chemist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, shares her remarkable journey from aspiring astronaut to a key player in the discovery of Tennessine, a super-heavy element. She reflects on the challenges and excitement of working with radioactive materials and the significance of heavy elements in unlocking cosmic mysteries. Clarice also discusses the joy of her contribution to the periodic table and her passion for inspiring the next generation of scientists, particularly young girls.
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Clarice's Unconventional Path to Science
- Clarice Phelps's career path wasn't straightforward; she joined the Navy after college due to a low GPA.
- She served on the USS Ronald Reagan, operating nuclear reactors, before working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Recreating the Early Universe
- Scientists create heavy elements, like Tennesseine, to understand the early universe.
- They theorize that heavier elements existed then and decayed into the lighter elements we see today.
Creating Element 117
- Creating element 117 involved smashing calcium and berkelium together, elements with atomic numbers adding up to 117.
- Clarice's role was extracting pure berkelium, a complex and dangerous process due to radioactivity.