A lump of cerium kept in an inert atmosphere. | Image: Wikimedia
Cerium (pronounced see-ree-um) is a soft, silvery metal, and the 58th element of the periodic table. It’s named after the dwarf planet Ceres (Pluto’s not the only one), and has many uses; it’s added to fuel to reduce the emissions, it’s used to colour glass, and in lights, and in lighters.
This is a general science zone, so the scientists in this zone research a lot of different things.
There’s a scientist looking at evolution; what makes a creature become toxic? And there’s a scientist researching computers; what if they ‘thought’ in pictures instead of words? One of the scientists is looking at how the internet works in rural communities, and ways to make it better.
There’s a scientist looking at what happens to our joints as we age, and one looking at hospital super bugs, and how to treat them.