Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal Top Chemist on Terrence Howard's JRE Episode "Chemistry is POETRY!" | Lee Cronin
May 24, 2024
Lee Cronin, a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow and expert in inorganic chemistry, joins the conversation to dissect Terence Howard's provocative statements on chemistry. They explore intriguing concepts like the relationship between energy, sound, and the atomic structure of elements. The discussion also critiques traditional scientific education and emphasizes understanding over mere calculation. Additionally, Cronin shares his ambitious projects aimed at creating life in the lab and developing artificial chemical consciousness.
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Poetic Chemistry vs. Concrete Reality
- Terrence Howard's poetic interpretation of the periodic table conflates unrelated chemical properties.
- He seems to be confusing spectral lines with elemental identity.
One True Periodic Table
- Multiple periodic table formulations exist, but chemists primarily use the conventional one based on atomic number.
- Alternative tables lack practical use in current chemical research and applications.
Elemental Alchemy
- Elements are distinctly defined by their atomic number (number of protons).
- Turning one element into another requires nuclear processes, not simply combining existing atoms.