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THE MATERIAL WORLD
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PROGRAMME INFO |
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Quentin Cooper reports on developments across the sciences. Each week scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects.
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Contact Material World |
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LISTEN AGAIN Ìý30 min |
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PRESENTER |
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"For me science isn't a subject, it's a perspective. There are fascinating scientific aspects to everything from ancient history to the latest gadgets, outer space to interior decorating; and each week on The Material World we try to reflect the excitement, ideas, uncertainties, collisions and collaborations as science continues its never-ending voyage into the unknown".
Quentin Cooper |
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PROGRAMME DETAILS |
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Zeolites have a porous, crystallineÌýstructure
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Benjamin Franklin's Legacy
Inventor Benjamin Franklin was born nearly 300 years ago on the 17th of January 1706.ÌýHis early career was in printing but when he retired at 42 he turned to science.
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His famous experiments with kites helped prove that lightning is naturally-occuringÌýelectricity and led to the invention of the lightning conductor.Ìý His interests were broad, as he attempted to understand the weather, ants and sight defects.Ìý
So what is his legacy?Ìý Frank JamesÌýis Professor of the History of Science at the Royal Institution and Dr Page Talbot is the associate director of the Benjamin Franklin tercentenary celebrations.Ìý They join Quentin to explain why Franklin is still important.
Zeolites
There may be zeolite crystals in your home, in washing powder or cat litter.Ìý They areÌýsoft whiteÌýminerals made of aluminium, silicon and oxygen.Ìý Their crystalline structure is like molecular scaffolding and their large surface area and cage-like nature makes them useful for catalysis and storage.
Armenia has lots of natural zeolites and researchers are using them to help clean upÌýnuclear waste.Ìý Chris Rhodes is an independent energy consultantÌýusing zeolites to sieve out caesium and strontium.
Quentin Cooper also talks to Dervishe Salih, from the Davy Faraday Research Lab about how zeolites can beÌýgrown and analysed in the lab.
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