Main content

States of Matter

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the science of matter and the states in which it can exist, from solids, liquids and gases to high-energy plasmas.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the science of matter and the states in which it can exist. Most people are familiar with the idea that a substance like water can exist in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. But as much as 99% of the matter in the universe is now believed to exist in a fourth state, plasma. Today scientists recognise a number of other exotic states or phases, such as glasses, gels and liquid crystals - many of them with useful properties that can be exploited.

With:

Andrea Sella
Professor of Chemistry at University College London

Athene Donald
Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Cambridge

Justin Wark
Professor of Physics and Fellow of Trinity College at the University of Oxford

Producer: Thomas Morris.

Available now

47 minutes

Last on

Thu 3 Apr 2014 21:30

LINKS AND FURTHER READING

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

Μύ

READING LIST:

Μύ

Philip Ball, H2O: A Biography of Water (Phoenix, 2000)

Μύ

Shalom Eliezer and Y. Eliezer, The Fourth State of Matter: An Introduction to Plasma Science (Taylor & Francis, 2001)

Μύ

Mark Miodownik, Stuff Matters: The Strange Stories of the Marvellous Materials that Shape Our Man-made World (Viking, 2013)

Μύ

D. Tabor, Gases, Liquids and Solids and Other States of Matter (Cambridge University Press, 1991)

ΜύΜύ

Μύ

Μύ

Tin ingot suffering from tin pest

Tin ingot suffering from tin pest

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Melvyn Bragg
Interviewed Guest Andrea Sella
Interviewed Guest Athene Donald
Interviewed Guest Justin Wark
Producer Thomas Morris

Broadcasts

  • Thu 3 Apr 2014 09:00
  • Thu 3 Apr 2014 21:30

Featured in...

In Our Time podcasts

Download programmes from the huge In Our Time archive.

The In Our Time Listeners' Top 10

If you’re new to In Our Time, this is a good place to start.

Arts and Ideas podcast

Download the best of Radio 3's Free Thinking programme.

Podcast