CPLAS Mines for Gold on BBC Radio 4
Tags: press, publicengagement
CPLAS co‑investigator Graham Hutchings, Regius Professor of Chemistry at Cardiff University, recently appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Curious Cases with Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain to discuss one of the most fascinating and unexpectedly useful elements on the periodic table: gold.
The episode, Mining for Gold (Series 24, Episode 12), explores gold’s long cultural history. From ancient Egyptian tombs and medieval currency to pop music and luxury, before turning to its critical role in modern science and technology.
During the programme, Graham highlights how gold has moved far beyond ornamentation to become a powerful material for catalysis and advanced applications. Gold‑based catalysts have helped eliminate the use of toxic mercury in chemical manufacturing, a landmark example of how fundamental chemistry can deliver real‑world environmental and industrial benefits. Gold is also essential in electronics and space technologies, underlining how materials chemistry underpins everyday life as well as future innovation.
You can listen to the episode on BBC Sounds