October 2019
Departments
Open for Discussion: The Asteroid Next Door
By Michael Tinnesand
We live in a world of finite metals. What happens if we run out?
Features
The Secret Life of Gold
By Grant Currin
Valued for its beauty and functionality, gold both adorns art and serves as an electrical conductor in cellphones. New research tells us about this marvelous metal’s cosmic origins.
* Article in Spanish Translation
Where's the Gold? Word Puzzle
*Rompecabezas: ¿Dónde Está el Oro?
Featured Video
Cash, Chemistry, and Counterfeit
By Brian Rohrig
Long before paper money was even a thing, counterfeiters found innovative ways to fake currencies such as gold coins. Learn what makes paper money practically forgery-proof today.
*Available by subscription only
The Measure of a Mole
By XiaoZhi Lim
Did you know that units of measure can change? Well, the mole just did! Find out how and why scientists came up with its new definition.
*Available by subscription only
The Future of Forensics
By Michael Tinnesand
For years, flawed assumptions about forensics contributed to the wrongful imprisonment of many innocent people. Science has set the field on a correction course.
*Available by subscription only
Chemistry in Person: Brandon Jones
By Lis Gallegos and Raadhia Patwary
Are you fascinated by forensics? Learn how one young scientist ended up leading the chemistry unit of a major city’s forensic department.
