Tantalum

The Nobel Prize for Chemistry was announced today with Israeli scientist Dan Shechtman winning for his discovery of quasicrystals. For the non-doctorate chemists out there, quasicrystals are materials that are tightly packed with a non-repeating pattern (read: like a solid but without the repetition we love and know). Here's a picture from the NY Times - it would make a pretty sick blog background if you were pondering :)

(Picture from NY Times)

Sometimes I feel like my students are quasicrystals - you think you can predict their next move, but they surprise you every day. Take for instance the following examples:

1) I may never wear colored or patterned tights again. Today I was wearing polka dot tights and my kids thought I was some kind of leper. "Miss Labbate, why are your legs so bumpy?" (said more like "Miss Laaaabate, why yo legz so bumpay?"). "Miss Labbate, what is going on with your legs?" Needless to say, another pair of tights banished to the back of the drawer.

2) In high school and college, I was told I was intimidating. Today one of my kids told me that even if I was "100% mad," he could never take me seriously because I look too sweet/nice. And with that comment, my rough and tough persona along with my ego went flying out the window...

3) Teacher/dress shoes are for "old people." I was told I needed to "get me some Jordans."

And some less funny ones...

4) Apparently being white and having brown eyes is impossible. That one was a new one for me (please go tell that to my Italian relatives...)

5) Being called a "hot piece of white ass" by your most well-behaved kid? Yeah, that happens too.

Expect the unexpected friends. You'll never know what happens next.


Common Occurrences: Tantalum capacitors are found in cell phones, computers, medical equipment, radios, video games and even talking dolls!

Historical Reference: Tantalum filaments were used in light bulbs on the Titanic. The ship boasted that lights could be kept on through the night without the worry of fire.

Fun Fact: Tantalum is one of two elements to have had an organized boycott against it! Tantalum is often boycotted because its mines are around the habitats of endangered gorillas.