Thu 25 May
|Mycenae House
Atoms, Photons and the Nebulium Affair
by Tony Sizer In 1864, using a novel physical technique, an unknown element was discovered in a gaseous nebula. In 1868, a second new element was found in the Sun using the same method.
Time & Location
25 May 2023, 19:00 – 21:00
Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Rd, London SE3 7SE, UK
About the Event
In 1869, evidence of a third was glimpsed in the corona of the Sun.
Yet only one of these was ever found on Earth and is well known to balloonists and people who like squeaky voices.
Why is this? All three elements were discovered by reputable astronomers using spectroscopy, which has become an essential tool in modern astronomical research. Yet, while Helium is well known today, Nebulium and Coronium have disappeared into obscurity.
Was it all down to Chance?
Tony's Bio:
After obtaining an MA in Natural Science and Cert. Ed. at Pembroke College, Cambridge. I became a chemistry teacher. Bangs, flashes and smells were included at every opportunity. However, after 30 years, b’s, f’s and s’s were frowned upon and replaced by Risk Assessments, which were much less fun, so I took early retirement.