The University of Nottingham, in England, has put a high-tech twist on the periodic table, creating a clickable version that points to short YouTube clips about each element.
The Periodic Table of Videos, as their creation is called, features 118 videos, each about 2 minutes long. Scientists perform experiments with the elements or describe unusual properties of each one. In the clip about Beryllium, for instance, a researcher refuses to open a jar holding a sample of the element, explaining that exposure to it can cause a rare and deadly disease. (Another researcher interviewed in the video explains that the element is used in the processing of medical X-rays.)
The “most watched” elemental video, according to the site, is the one for Sodium. If you drop sodium into water, the reaction is explosive, as researchers demonstrate. —Jeffrey R. Young
Developing online and blended learning programs requires research and collaboration. Learn how top technology companies are partnering with campuses across the country to advance online learning as it becomes an increasingly important aspect of higher education.