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Critical Metals: The Chemistry of Light

From lightbulbs to lasers, many technologies use the luminescent properties of rare earth metals.

The “rare earth metals” include 17 elements, some of which are luminescent, meaning they give off light when activated by electromagnetic radiation. This exhibit explores the history of the rare earth metals europium (Eu), yttrium (Y), cerium (Ce), and neodymium (Nd), along with the radioactive metal thorium (Th).

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A Blaze of Crimson Light: The Story of Neon

Neon is a dull and invisible gas until it’s trapped in a tube and zapped with electricity. Literally pulled out of thin air, it became a symbol of progress and an essential component of the electronic age.
Color illustration of a rare earths mine, with people looking distressed.

Rare Earths: The Hidden Cost to Their Magic

Rare earth elements are essential to modern life. Luckily the world has plenty of them; unfortunately, getting them out of the ground leaves behind massive environmental damage.

Michael Faraday

Best known for his work on electricity and electrochemistry, Faraday proposed the laws of electrolysis. He also discovered benzene and other hydrocarbons.

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