Thorium (Th)

Elements by BBC

Sep 16, 201629:58Business

This radioactive metal holds the promise of thousands of years of energy for the world. But is it really any cleaner or safer than traditional uranium-based nuclear power? Chemistry Professor Andrea Sella of University C...

Related Episodes

Continue listening to more episodes from Elements.

Obscure Elements

Sep 28, 2016 - 30:00

In the final programme in our Elements series, Justin Rowlatt looks at the rarest and oddest members of t...

Gold (Au)

Sep 21, 2016 - 29:59

Why do we value this practically useless metal so highly? And does it bring out the worst in human nature...

Platinum group (Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir)

Sep 7, 2016 - 30:00

Six extremely rare metals that clean your car exhaust and turbocharge industrial chemistry, but which are...

Arsenic (As)

Aug 31, 2016 - 30:00

The macabre poison we know from crime novels and history books has some surprising modern uses. Justin Ro...

Silver (Ag)

Aug 24, 2016 - 29:57

The shiniest and showiest of metals is still mainly used in silverware. But it also has some surprisingly...

Iodine (I)

Aug 17, 2016 - 29:59

Why does iodine deficiency still blight children in developing countries like India? Justin Rowlatt trave...

Hydrogen (H) - fusion

May 31, 2016 - 30:00

Could we finally be about to crack this source of potentially unlimited clean energy - thanks in part to...

Cadmium (Cd)

May 25, 2016 - 30:01

This toxic metal is slowly being phased out of our lives. But as presenter Justin Rowlatt discovers, whil...