Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe How do we know what elements the Universe is made of?
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Jul 1, 2025 Discover the whimsical journey of how we learned about the universe's elements, featuring naked Greeks and crafty Scots. Delve into the intriguing contributions of overlooked women in science alongside humorous debates on extraterrestrial life. Learn about groundbreaking techniques like spectroscopy that unveiled the mysteries of the sun and stars. Reflect on historical figures who shaped our understanding of Earth’s composition, and celebrate the pioneering spirit of female astronomers who overcame challenges in a male-dominated field.
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Archimedes' Eureka Moment
- Archimedes figured out Earth's crown density by noticing water displacement in a bath.
- He famously ran naked through Syracuse shouting "Eureka!" when he had his insight.
Using Mountains to Measure Gravity
- Measuring Earth's mass required finding isolated large masses like Scotland's She-Hallon mountain.
- Pendulum deflection near the mountain revealed gravitational pull, enabling early density estimates.
Earth's Core Density Discovery
- Earth's density measurement revealed it is denser than surface rock, hinting at a dense core.
- The core was found to consist mostly of iron and nickel, unlike surface materials.