New York Times: Is It Time to Upend the Periodic Table?

The Institute’s Brigitte Van Tiggelen is quoted in this article on Mendeleev’s chart and the variations proposed in the 150 years since.

August 27, 2019

Brigitte Van Tiggelen, a chemistry historian at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia, discussed the work of Ida Noddack, a German chemist who discovered rhenium, and Lise Meitner, an Austrian-Swedish physicist who, with Otto Hahn, discovered protactinium. Dr. Van Tiggelen is an editor of a new book, Women in Their Element, that explores more than 30 similar stories, including, of course, that of Marie Curie, who discovered two elements, radium and polonium, and twice won the Nobel Prize.

“We present the story as a communal enterprise,” Dr. Van Tiggelen said.

Read more in the New York Times >>

Above: 3-D wooden periodic table model designed by Edward G. Mazurs, ca. 1974. Science History Institute.

More News

Gouache painting of a fireworks display
news

Science History Institute Presents Historical Fireworks, Pop-Up Museum, Fun Giveaways, and More at Wawa Welcome America’s Philly Fair 250

Join us June 20 and 21 in Fairmount Park for a family-friendly celebration that will bring history to life.

news

Science History Institute and Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie Name William R. Newman Winner of 2026 Franklin-Lavoisier Prize

The science historian will be honored for his contributions to the history of alchemy on October 7 in Philadelphia.

overhead view of museum displays
news

Science History Institute Joins ArtPhilly’s Citywide Festival with Unique Museum Tour

What Now: 2026 features artist Aislinn Pentecost-Farren, who will tell the history of the climate crisis through the Institute’s collections.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.