From iron to uranium, titanium to silicon, this is "a wide-ranging look at scientific progress. It's also a lot of fun" (The Wall Street Journal).
Iron. Carbon. Gold. Silver. Uranium. Titanium. Silicon. These elements of the periodic table have shaped our lives and our world, in ways both good and bad. Combining history, science, and politics, this "lively, educational examination of civilization's building blocks" reveals the fascinating story (Publishers Weekly).
With carbon, we can access heat, light, and mobility at the flick of a switch. Silicon enables us to communicate across the globe in an instant. Uranium is both productive (nuclear power) and destructive (nuclear bombs). Iron is the bloody weapon of war, but also the economic tool of peace. And our desire for alluring gold is the foundation of global trade—but it has also led to the death of millions.
Explaining how titanium pervades modern consumer culture and how an innovative new form of carbon could be starting a technology revolution, Seven Elements That Changed the World is an adventure in human passion, ingenuity, and discovery—and the latest chapter in a journey that is far from over.