Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2011 - (Page 36)

off the shelf The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean Review by Shmuale Mark Have you ever heard of Charles Hall? He was the young student who, after much work and many failed attempts, learned to alumi extract aluminum from one of its common ores by electrolysis, running a current through it while it dissolved. He quickly became rich, and his ad campaign helped cement the American spelling of aluminum—with only one “i.” This is just one intriguing story in Sam Kean’s The Disappearing Spoon, a study in the history, politics, and, of course, science of the periodic table. No other scientific diagram or chart, claims Kean, puts so much information into so little space or is as important in as many fields. For the most part, Kean focuses on the stories of people—some of whom are scientists, and some laymen—and their weird or amazing encounters with the elements of the periodic table, whether it was making spectacular discoveries, becoming victims, or benefiting from the periodic table. Along the way, Kean introduces in easy terms the science necessary for understanding the shocking behavior of simple compounds or even pure elements. He explains how Dmitri Mendeleev created the table and afterward correctly predicted new elements; how one by one, in fits and starts when new technologies came around, the gaps were filled in; and how, with the help of quantum theory, scientists advanced the table farther into unknown territory. However, for a book about the astonishing consequences of scientific theory, Spoon is remarkably easy to understand with only a basic chemistry class and some common sense. The latter proves more important than you would think, and some big blunders described in the book might not have happened had scientists used more of it (for example, the Nobel committee actually gave a prize for the discovery of the transuranium elements when the discovery turned out to be provably wrong). Kean explains the science along the way in simple terms that provide clarity, something most textbooks fail to do, and he either tells a story or describes the special properties of every element on the table. (The book, by the way, is named after a famous scientific prank of giving a colleague a gallium spoon to stir hot tea or coffee. Because the metalloid has a low melting point, it disappears into the drink.) The stories of scientists will take you through the full gamut of human emotions, from lise Meitner’s disappointment when the Nobel Prize he deserved was given to a lab partner, to Glenn Seaborg’s triumph of having an element named after him after a long controversy. As ever in science, the path to the future remains open, and The Disappearing Spoon ends in an inspiring sprint through futuristic technologies and shocking scientific ideas, but adds one point: the periodic table, probably in the very same form, will live on. Sam Kean is an expert on the material and writes in a friendly, inviting style. The book is a delightful tour of the land of the elements, and it was a pleasure to read. Shmuale Mark is a freshman at the Berman hebrew academy in montgomery county, mD. he enjoys reading books on science, science fiction, and everything in between. he looks forward to taking a course at nearby university of maryland, and hopes to keep up his hobby of writing poems throughout the summer. Also recommended Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang Sixteen-year-old emmajin yearns to be a warrior. Unfortunately for her, she is the granddaughter of Khubalai Khan and is destined instead to be a princess. But when some foreign merchants visit the Mongol ruler’s empire, emmajin is sent to spy on them. She ends up making friends with one of them, who turns out to be the young Marco Polo, and they set off together on an adventure across China. This is historical fiction so realistic you can’t believe it didn’t all happen and so beautifully written that you can’t stop reading. —Colleen Burkett, 15, NH The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell Yes, it’s a zombie story, but you need to get past that right now. There is much more to this novel than “meatskins,” and it centers on the story of Temple, a teenage girl who can’t remember her parents because she’s been on her own for so long. When she has to leave the island where she’s been safe, she crosses paths with Moses Todd, who pursues her to get revenge. I still can’t decide if I like the ending, but I definitely highly recommend this book. —David Asch, 16, NY 36 imagine May/Jun 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2011

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2011
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
App Quest
Become a Citizen Scientist with Your Cell Phone
Media Arts and Technology at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
The Accidental Animator
The New Media Explorers
Learning by Design
A Generation of Criminals
Digital Storytelling
Drama and Duct Tape
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2011