Fire in Nottingham

So many people have asked about this, I thought I'd write a generic response.

Last night (12 September) a new chemistry building at the University of Nottingham was destroyed by fire.

Aftermath

It was a horribly spectacular blaze tackled by 60 firefighters.

BBC NEWS REPORT ON THE FIRE

The building was under construction, about 70% complete. It happened at night and no-one was hurt.

It was not the university's main chemistry building, where we film Periodic Videos.

In fact the new building was on a separate but nearby campus.

However everyone in the chemistry department was looking forward to using the new labs. Our very own Professor Pete Licence was to oversee their operation.

Artist's impression

It is too early to know how the fire started and what will happen next.

We had been meaning to make a film about its construction and, in fact, had recently scheduled a film shoot but cancelled at the last minute.

I sincerely hope the project starts again and we get to make that film!

PS: The destroyed building was the "GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry". More at this link.

PPS: University statement.

Some Australia Videos

It's Australia Day.

Here are some videos - covering chemistry and astronomy - from our recent roadtrip Down Under.

Chemical Reactions Compilation

Here's a compilation of reactions from The Periodic Table of Videos.

If any catch your eye, you can find the full videos in the list of links below.

Don't say I never do anything for you... And don't hesitate to point out any wrong links or errors. I haven't had time to double check them all.

0.00 Sulfur Barking Dog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGMR72X8V-U

0.02 Hydrogen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rdmpx39PRk

0.03 Apollo Lunar Lift-Off Chemistry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLCrZGgKD-k

0.06 Pete's Coloured Flames: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ZuimXdObE

0.10 Liquid Nitrogen (version 1):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmvJ54kRpjg

0.11 Magnesium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu385YwuRaM

0.12 Cake Blowing Up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9_EhrjDD8

0.14 Boron Flame Test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzqdHkpXuy4

0.16 Pistol Gunpowder: Not in a video yet?

0.17 White Phosphorus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6_-EUcswSc

0.20 Helium Balloon cooled with Liquid Nitrogen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8FJEiI5e6Q

0.24 Liquid Oxygen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuG5WTId-IY

0.27 Cokes Cans in Acid and Base: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnPrtYUKke8

0.30 Crude Oil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4xeWY1ouSw

0.33 Sodium in Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IT2I3LtlNE

0.35 Cheeseburger in HCl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NddZ5ftQb0Q

0.36 Aqua Regia dissolves gold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwnKU89CCdI

0.39 Fluorine and cotton wool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWp45Eewtw

0.40 Smashing Liquid Nitrogen Pumpkin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2799XSIlZM

0.42 Platinum Gauze: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBBy4-0uUC4

0.44 Copper Sulphate: Not yet broadcast

0.45 Unbroadcast - but hear about some favourite reactions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfWb5ksi3qc

0.47 Lithium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY0afMI4Jgc

0.49 Phosphorus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSYLUat03A4

0.50 Caesium (first go): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCARhVfeX5U

0.52 Unbroadcast - but hear about some favourite reactions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfWb5ksi3qc

0.54 Magnesium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKkWdizutxI

0.57 Magnesium in CO2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dSMzg0UPPo

0.59 Fake Blood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXOdQetMysY

1.01 Krakatoa Tubes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drHVT4NHSNQ

1.05 Pumpkin Thermite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2799XSIlZM

1.09 Pete's Coloured Flames again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ZuimXdObE

1.13 Heavy Metals Collide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okJnQIjELY4

1.15 Bunsen Burners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmtbMKJLUJo

1.16 Titanium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpFTQYynrc4

1.18 Caesium (first go): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCARhVfeX5U

1.21 Copper Colour Changes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kop1sWzTK-I

1.22 Heavy Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUVzb0fzHsk

1.24 Exothermic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-iisqNh1r8

1.25 Sulphuric Acid and Sugar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=100Bk580mPY

1.27 Aspirin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amTAuK25P6c

1.29 Fluorine and Steel Wool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWp45Eewtw

1.30 Alcohol Distillation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CheFL8see30

1.32 Gold Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dF0QTzcuac

1.34 Magnesium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKkWdizutxI

1.35 Fluorine and Charcoal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1FsO5zaf6M

1.37 Fluorine and Cotton Wool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1FsO5zaf6M

1.39 Hydrochloric Acid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7GE56dxS8o

1.30 Carbon Dioxide under a coin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dSMzg0UPPo

1.42 Rubidium in Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XLGopBovoI

1.45 Boring Zinc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99wPiMb-k0o

1.49 Musket Firing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orO3PxLPiKU

1.50 Copper in Nitric Acid: Not in a video yet?

1.52 Gun Powder: Not in a video yet?

1.55 Jim from Thunder and Lightning: Not in a video yet?

1.56 Ferrocene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6_E6C_e_fg

1.57 Fire in Pumpkin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2799XSIlZM

1.59 Silver Flashes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPd5qAb4J50

2.01 More Fluorine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1FsO5zaf6M

2.02 Ammonium Chloride, Zinc and Iodine: Not in a video yet?

2.06 Potassium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPdevJTGAYY

2.08 Methane in Sam's Hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXB3ULFKl0o

2.09 Traffic Lights Reaction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YO4UPTjMVI

2.11 Potassium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPdevJTGAYY

2.13 Hypergolic Reaction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bin_W1xVPfY

2.15 Martyn on Candles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZjfoJmOt1I

2.16 Chlorine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXCfBl4rmh0

2.21 Carbon Dioxide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dSMzg0UPPo

2.22 Reaction: Not in a video yet?

2.24 Bromine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slt3_5upuSs

2.25 Luminol from Pete's Cam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaJdCYP67zM

2.27 Live in Turin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHlrkMILAZs

2.29 Frozen Roses Live in Turin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHlrkMILAZs

2.30 Gun Cotton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38w2-NCdtio

2.35 Creme Eggs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6GyJBgBk2o

2.44 Perfume: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNHyJGTt20

2.46 Caesium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aD6HwUE2c0

2.49 Sulfur: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGMR72X8V-U

2.53 Iron/Thermite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euQUgp5AY-Y

2.59 Gallium Beating Heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ccRvKKwZQ

3.00 Silver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPd5qAb4J50

3.02 Liquid Nitrogen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmvJ54kRpjg

3.03 Live in Turin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHlrkMILAZs

3.05 Creme Egg ruptures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6GyJBgBk2o

3.11 Crystal Garden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAr7mvBjWq8

3.16 Silver Cylinder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SgYhzd5ehY

3.20 Coke cans in Acid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnPrtYUKke8

3.23 Alcohol Distillation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CheFL8see30

3.24 Ethiopian Periodic Table: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4nqHfvYVbk

3.26 Crystal garden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAr7mvBjWq8

3.29 Creme Eggs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6GyJBgBk2o

3.30 Fire Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1z0AVvY9yM

3.33 Hydrogen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rdmpx39PRk

A Happy Professor meets Hank the Koala

I don't think I've ever seen Professor Martyn Poliakoff smile so much.

Last week we visited Cleland Wildlife Park, in my home town for Adelaide, Australia.

The staff were kind enough to give the professor a short opportunity to hold one of their koalas, called Hank.

It was the fist time I've seen the professor stop talking about chemistry. He seemed captivated!

But don't worry, a few minutes later we retreated to a nearby eucalyptus tree and The Prof made this video about the chemistry of koalas (or koala bears, as he couldn't help calling them!)

Chemical Rap and the Croatian Connection

Earlier today I blogged about periodicvideos reaching its 50,000th subscriber.

I now have two new pieces of news.

First, we've posted a video to mark the milestone.

It's a song by rapper and science communicator Oort Kuiper (aka Jon Chase) - but using some of our own video clips.

Check it out:



Also, I sent a message to the 50,000th subscriber - and heard back from him.

Initially he thought my message was a hoax (I don't blame him with the amount of spam flying around YouTube!)

The chap - who would prefer to remain nameless - is originally from the town of Zadar in Croatia.

He wrote: "I had no idea this was going to be the 50,000th subscription, and I wanted to subscribe long time ago, but never really cared about the whole concept of subscription because I periodically watch the channels I like, like periodicvideos.

"Well, this is a rather great honour for a Youtuber, especially because your channel is one of the best ones around.

"Though I'm not too active on Youtube cause there's not much time for making the videos I'd like, it's been more than 5 years that I run a blog (endimion17.blog.hr), mainly discussing pseudoscience from a healthy critical thinking point of view, presenting the local web population with some cool things from amateur astronomy and chemistry, and occasionally a rant or two on criminal."

I can't vouch for the blog as I don't understand the language, but here it is.

Our mysterious number 50,000 also had plenty of suggestions for future videos.

He wrote: "It would be great to make few videos of really rare sights, like solid oxygen, solid and liquid ozone (yeah, I know it's dangerous), glowing of condensed radon, the glow of metallic radium, etc.

"We've all been reading about stuff like that from the textbooks, but there are no photos or videos around."

Irish Luck

I'm just back from a brief but successful trip to Dublin, in Ireland.

The main reason was to give a public talk at the Science Gallery.

It was about making science films and, as always, I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss my work.

I also checked out the gallery's excellent "Elements" exhibition, which runs until September 23.

It was really good and any science buff will love it. Worth a cheap flight to Dublin if you can afford it!!!

I was joined on the trip by two of our Irish science stars - Phil Moriarty from Sixty Symbols and Darren Walsh from periodicvideos.

The pair helped me out with a few films we'll be posting in the coming weeks.

Professor Moriarty did three (or "tree", as he would say in his Irish lilt).

We discussed Erwin Schrödinger at the lecture theatre bearing his name at Trinity College.

We also discussed Ireland's only science Nobel Prize winner - Edwin Walton.

And of course we did a video about Guinness, the famous Irish drink which is jam-packed with interesting science stuff.

Dr Walsh joined me at the Science Gallery exhibit I mentioned above, and we'll have some videos coming soon about periodic tables and elements.

They should be fun and will include a few little "gimmicks" that I think chemistry fans will love, including a really cool platinum sample and a periodic table in Braille!

PS: We didn't drink the Guinness - neither Professor Moriarty or I are particularly fond of it!

The American Way

It occurs to me that we didn't do anything to mark the 4th of July.

So I thought I'd share this older video I filmed during a visit to the US a while back (it includes a pledge of allegiance, which caused plenty of chat in the YouTube comments section).



And The Prof answering questions from US students.

Top Five Chemistry Films....

I've asked some of our regular viewers to list their top five videos from the Periodic Table of Videos (we've posted more than 200).

I thought it might be fun - and it's always useful to know what people do and don't like.

The first contribution comes from regular viewer Sarah, known on YouTube as CoolMinty and on Twitter as @SarahScientist

Here are her five choices in "no particular order".

1. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2008



Sarah says: "The Christmas Special with the Chemical Sisters is a fun video for my favourite season. I watched this many times when it was first made and thought it a great idea making an instrument out of test tubes. It's nice to see which elements people like and why. I expected Steve Liddle's favourite element to be Uranium and am still intrigued to know what it really is?"

2. EXPLODING CAKE



Sarah says: "It has cake and explosions, need I say more? Lovely way to celebrate PTOV's first birthday."

3. POTASSIUM



Sarah says: "My favourite element, even if some people think it is evil. I learned a bit more about it too."

4. ETHIOPIAN PERIODIC TABLE



Sarah says: "This shows how scientists work when going on trips/conferences/ meetings etc. It is a fine example of science communication, encouraging kids and shows how PTOV's can be used in schools."

5. MERCURY BELL



Sarah says: "Fascinating to see two (eccentric) scientists chatting about chemistry and this shows how innovative science can be."

Thanks again to Sarah.

I'll be posting a few more top fives over the next few weeks or months (including my own, although is that a bit like choosing your favourite child!!!?).

Your own contributions are also welcome.