In Our Time - States of Matter
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.
Published on Thursday, 3rd April 2014.
Available Podcasts from In Our Time
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