Elements
There are 118 chemical elements that we know of, 94 occurring naturally on Earth, while the rest are synthetic elements that have to be created in a lab. Elements cannot be broken down into any maller substance, and their atomic number describes the number of protons orbiting its nucleus. Elements are the building blocks of all that we know, but despite this, constitute only 15 per cent of all matter in the Universe - the rest is mysterious "dark matter" or "dark energy".
Toxic mercury pollution found in the ocean’s deepest point
Two independent teams of scientists have found methylmercury in fish and crustaceans captured in the 11,000-metre-deep Mariana Trench.
Element in the room | Chemical elements with mistakes in their names
We all take oxygen for granted, but when you look into the history of its name, things are far from elementary.
Phosphorus, a key ingredient of life, could have been brought to Earth on a comet
Phosphorus, which is present in the DNA of all living organisms, may have been delivered by the icy wanderers billions of years ago.
Cosmic spacequakes and their heavy metal energy
In this extract from Nicholas Mee's The Cosmic Mystery Tour, he explores the power behind two colliding neutron stars and how they hold the power to build the heaviest of elements.
Synthetic elements | 5 of the weirdest ways they were first made in the lab
In the hunt for synthetic elements not found in nature, physicists and chemists have created some ingenious ways to discover them in the lab.
Infographic | Which elements are in danger of running out?
As we celebrate 150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev's publication of the periodic table, Federica Fragapane's infographic explains which elements are under threat.
Why is gold called a 'heavy' metal despite being soft?
Gold is only hardcore when it comes to its heavy atoms.
What colour metal would a gold and silver mix be?
Electrumfinger - Bond villain on a budget.
What are the top 10 elements in the human body?
(By proportion of total body mass)
Extract iron from cereal
Try not to let this one put you off your corn flakes.
Make a futuristic ferrofluid
Create crazy shapes and weird blobs of matter with this fun ferrofluid experiment.
How we discovered gravitational waves from 'neutron stars' – and why it's such a huge deal
The discovery of tiny ripples in space from the violent collision of dense stars could help solve many mysteries – including where the gold in our jewellery comes from.
Will Earth’s interior ever become solid?
Beneath us all the Earth's mantle moves slowly forward, but will the centre of the Earth ever solidify?
Will we discover any more elements?
There are 118 elements on the periodic table and we've finally completed the seventh row, but that doesn't mean we've seen the last of the new elements.
Oldest oxygen in the Universe discovered
Astronomers find oxygen in galaxy 13.1 billion years old, offering clues to the formation of galaxies after the Big Bang.
It's elemental: how to become a periodic table pub quiz champion
As four new chemical elements are named, here's all you need to know.
Four newest elements named
Nihonium, moscovium, tennessine and oganesson fill up the seventh row of the periodic table.
Is new hydrogen being created in the Universe?
The most basic element in the Universe could one day be in short supply.
How high can a helium balloon float?
Helium makes your voice go high, but how close balloons go to space will surprise you.
How much gold is there in the world?
According to the World Gold Council, there are currently around 184,000 tonnes sitting in bank vaults, government reserves and personal collections, but quite how much that actually is will surprise you.
Why does inhaling helium change your voice?
Helium is not the only gas to change the sound of your voice.
How much salt is there in the Dead Sea?
The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest natural bodies of water on Earth. The special salt has been used in beauty products for thousands of years, but there's little chance of it running out!
Why is gold rare?
Gold owes its status as a precious metal to its rarity, but why isn't there more of this expensive element?
Is anything genuinely permanent?
Depends on your outlook, but either way, it's bleak.