Toward the end of the 4th millennium B.C., a revolutionary technology emerged in the Near East: metallurgy, which gave its name to the prehistoric period we now know as the Bronze Age. Bronze was the first significant alloy obtained by humans, and for millennia it was the basic alloy used for the production of tools, […]
Metals
Iron Was The First and Only Metal of Life’s Origin
Life as we know it relies on small quantities of metals to perform essential biological functions like breathing, DNA transcription, and energy conversion. Since the earliest forms of life floated in Earth’s primordial oceans, metals have played a crucial role in these processes. Almost half of the enzymes—proteins that drive chemical reactions within cells—require metals […]
Pyrite is Known as Fool’s Gold, but now it has been Found to Contain Lithium
Lithium-ion batteries have become essential for powering our modern, technology-driven world. From laptops and smartphones to electric vehicles, these rechargeable power sources are ubiquitous. However, the volatile nature of lithium poses a significant challenge, as demonstrated by the strict regulations airlines have in place to prevent lithium-ion batteries from being transported in checked luggage. The […]
Electrum, the natural gold and silver alloy used to mint the first metal coins
If we were to ask about a metal alloy used since the beginning of history, the unanimous answer would surely be bronze. And, in fact, this combination of copper and tin gives its name to a whole period of prehistory, so that we could perhaps consider it the most important until the appearance of others. […]