SCIENCE NEWS - HANDWASHING DISHES IS THE WORST #18

Josephine Cochrane didn't exactly enjoy washing dishes -- then again, who does? Luckily, Mrs. Cochrane happened to enjoy design and a flair for invention. Learn more about her Stuff of Genius in this episode.

Stuff of Genius tells the story behind everyday inventions. From the bikini to super wheat and everything in between. Viewers will learn the stories of unsung inventor heroes and their trials, tribulations and successes.

Element of the Day - IRON

Element of the Day - IRON

Iron is one of the elements you can't live without. Each molecule of hemoglobin in your blood contains iron atoms, helping you transport oxygen throughout your body. Iron is the primary element in the steel girders that support many buildings and the stainless steel flatware you may have in your kitchen. The core of the Earth is predominantly iron. The element is abundant in the Earth's crust and the Sun. Pure iron is even softer than aluminum, but you encounter it after it has been hardened for any of a multitude of uses.
Iron is one of the elements you encounter in pure form. It is essential for nutrition and used in a variety of household objects. 
Here are some quick facts about iron. 

1. Iron is an element that has been known in its pure form for at least 5,000 years. The name "iron" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "iron" and Scandinavian "iarn" for the metal.
2. The element symbol for iron is Fe, which comes from the Latin word for iron, "ferrum".
3. Iron is one of the most plentiful elements. It comprises about 5.6% of the earth's crust and almost all of the earth's core.
4. The single largest use of iron is to make steel, an alloy of iron and a smaller amount of carbon. According to achaeological records from Anatolia, man has been producing steel for at least 4,000 years.
5. Iron is a transition metal.
6. Iron is not always magnetic! The a allotrope (or form) or iron is ferromagnetic, yet if it is transformed to the b allotrope, the magnetism disappears even though the crystal lattice is unchanged.
7. Animals and plants require iron. Plants use iron in chlorophyll, the pigment used in photosynthesis. Humans use iron in hemoglobin molecules in blood to allow for the transport of oxygen to tissues throughout the body.
8. Although iron is an essential mineral, too much of it is extremely toxic. Free iron in the blood reacts with peroxides to form free radicals that damage DNA, protein, lipids and other cellular components, leading to illness and sometimes death. 20 milligrams of iron per kilogram of body weight is toxic, while 60 milligrams per kilogram is lethal.
9. Iron primarily forms compounds with +2 and +3 oxidation states.
10. Iron is formed via fusion in stars that have sufficient mass. The sun and many other stars contain significant amounts of iron.