Frank Swain is a science writer and blogger. He is based in the UK.
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Keep up to date with RSSKen grows crystals. Specifically, he grows free-standing crystals made of bismuth, a metal resembling lead. It has some very interesting properties - it crystallises at right angles, and tends to form shell-like "hoppers", and natural oxidation gives the crystals a very beautiful iridescence. The end result is something that looks like a tiny futuristic city of gleaming metal skyscrapers.
The good news is, Ken sells his crystals online, and of you can't afford to buy one, you can win one by correctly guessing its weight. Ken says:
Ever drink Pepto-Bismol? Well if you have, then you've swallowed some bismuth. Don't be afraid. Pharmaceutical applications are one of the main uses of bismuth. Bismuth is the 83rd element on the periodic table of elements. It sits just to the right of lead. Which means it is a bit heavier then lead. Because it is non-toxic, bismuth is now being substituted for lead in shot gun shells. No more contaminating our ponds with lead.
Great stuff!
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Comments
But bismuth is radioactive! So we're contaminating our ponds with a radioactive substance instead of just toxic substance. I smell a conspiracy...
Ok, ok. Bismuth has a VERY long half-life and is not radioactive for any practical purpose.
Posted by: Alex Besogonov | May 24, 2009 9:08 PM
Bismuth is actually a little less dense than lead: 9.78 g/cm³ versus 11.34 g/cm³. Next in the periodic table is polonium, which has two allotropes, both of which are even lighter than bismuth!
Posted by: Nick Hobson | May 24, 2009 10:47 PM
It seems like something very new and interesting for me because I have never read or seen anything like that in my life. By reading Alex's comment, I was afraid that it is something nuclear or whatever(radioactive) but thanks to the 2nd reply.
Posted by: Vaneesa | May 25, 2009 9:05 PM
A rough estimation;
Given the density of bismuth in 2 above, and the pic that shows a very rough sphere of 2 - 3 cm radius, that lump is between 330 and 1100 grams.
I'll go see what my prize is.
Posted by: eddie | May 25, 2009 10:00 PM
If you've ever had pepto-bismol and had your tongue turn black/brown afterwards I believe that this is what causes that effect as well.
Posted by: Siveambrai | May 26, 2009 4:09 PM
I think the coolest thing about bismuth is that is is diamagnetic, you can levitate a tiny magnet between two bigger chunks of bismuth!
This site showed me how, they offer kits, but I found all the stuff I needed between some old hard drives and some bismuth shotgun shells.
http://otherpower.com/newmaglev.html
Posted by: tbell | May 29, 2009 7:15 PM
oh wow, those are beautiful. For some reason they remind me of Nicholas Fisk, i always thought the trillions would look a bit like thaat :)
Posted by: Lab Rat | May 31, 2009 1:58 PM
I just had mind delivered from Ken, having read this blog months ago.
It's far more interesting and beautiful than his photos show - which is really quite something. I thought I knew what I was expecting in the box, but it isn't like that at all.
Quite, quite extraordinary.
Posted by: Rick | September 2, 2009 12:21 PM