The periodic table stares down from the walls of just about every chemistry lab. But the periodic table didn’t actually start with Mendeleev. Even more amazingly, he accurately predicted the properties of the missing elements. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of this pivotal moment in science, the UN has proclaimed 2019 to be the International year of the Periodic Table. Theodor Benfey’s spira table, created in 1964. It shows the names of the groups in which the elements are. The credit for its creation generally goes to Dimitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist who in 1869 wrote out the known elements (of which there were 63 at the time) on cards and then arranged them in columns and rows according to their chemical and physical properties. Mendeleev’s genius was in what he left out of his table. Notice the question marks in his table above? For example, next to Al (aluminium) there’s space for an unknown metal. Decades before, chemist John Dalton tried to create a table as well as some rather interesting symbols for the elements (they didn’t catch on). So where Dalton, Newlands and others had laid out what was known, Mendeleev left space for the unknown. Many had tinkered with arranging the elements. And just a few years before Mendeleev sat down with his deck of homemade cards, John Newlands also created a table sorting the elements by their properties. He recognised that certain elements were missing, yet to be discovered.
At first glance Mendeleev’s table doesn’t look much like the one we are familiar with.
Mendeleev foretold it would have an atomic mass of 68, a density of six grams per cubic centimetre and a very low melting point. Six years later Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran, isolated gallium and sure enough it slotted right into the gap with an atomic mass of 69.7, a density of 5.9g/cm³ and a melting point so low that it becomes liquid in your hand. Mendeleev did the same for scandium, germanium and technetium (which wasn’t discovered until 1937, 30 years after his death). For one thing, the modern table has a bunch of elements that Mendeleev overlooked (and failed to leave room for), most notably the noble gases (such as helium, neon, argon). And the table is oriented differently to our modern version, with elements we now place together in columns arranged in rows. For example, the halogens – fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and Iodine (I) (the J symbol in Mendeleev’s table) – all appear next to one another. Today they are arranged in the table’s 17th column (or group 17 as chemists prefer to call it). But once you give Mendeleev’s table a 90-degree turn, the similarity to the modern version becomes apparent. Dimitry Mendeleev’s table complete with missing elements. At first glance Mendeleev’s table doesn’t look much like the one we are familiar with. The credit for the modern periodic table creation generally goes to Mendeleev, a Russian chemist who in 1869 wrote out the known elements (of which there were 63 at the time) on cards and then arranged them in columns and rows according to their chemical and physical properties.
It may seem a small leap from this to the familiar diagram but, years after Mendeleev’s publications, there was plenty of experimentation with alternative layouts for the elements. Charles Janet’s left-step table. The elements that fall on each of the wheel’s spokes share common properties just as those in a column (group) do so in today’s table. A 3D ‘Mendeleev flower’ version of the table. For the first time, the noble gases appeared in their now familiar position on the far right of the table. Particularly influential was Charles Janet’s version. Werner also tried to take a leaf out of Mendeleev’s book by leaving gaps, although he rather overdid the guess work with suggestions for elements lighter than hydrogen and another sitting between hydrogen and helium (none of which exist). Interestingly, Janet also provided space for elements right up to number 120 despite only 92 being known at the time (we’re only at 118 now). Despite this rather modern looking table, there was still a bit of rearranging to be done. The resulting ‘left step’ table is still preferred by many physicists. He took a physicist’s approach to the table and used a newly discovered quantum theory to create a layout based on electron configurations. One particularly striking example is Heinrich Baumhauer’s spiral, published in 1870, with hydrogen at its centre and elements with increasing atomic mass spiraling outwards. III. Spiral, helical, and miscellaneous charts, G. N. Quam, Mary Battell Quam. Even before the table got its permanent right-angle flip, folks suggested some weird and wonderful twists. He took a physicist’s approach to the table and used a newly discovered quantum theory to create a layout based on electron configurations. Heinrich Baumhauer’s spiral. Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Types of graphic classifications of the elements.
If you’re as magpie-like about jewellery as I am, you’ll always be on the lookout for new brands and original pieces to add to your collection. Otiumberg positions itself as a demi-fine jewellery brand. Her signature T-bar necklaces have been worn by the likes of Taylor Swift. Their goal is to make pieces that ‘will be your go-to for years to come’. There are so many amazing affordable and mid-range jewellery brands out there today, with a plethora of choice no matter what your style. If you love keeping things unique and prefer to shop independent, these jewellery brands are worth checking out and keeping in mind for your next purchase. But along with the prominent brands we all know and love, there are a load of under-the-radar gems (no pun intended) out there just waiting to be discovered. Tilly Sveaas founded her eponymous brand in 2016. Born in Hong Kong to British-Norwegian parents, London-based Tilly has been a jewellery designer for over 25 years, creating her first pieces during an extended trip to Bali, where she still produces to this day. This British brand was launched in the autumn of 2024 by Tofi Caroline Adedoyin, a former investment banking director. The brand’s founders, sisters Christie and Rosanna Wollenberg, believe you shouldn’t just save beautiful jewellery for best, so the sculptural rings and earrings – backtoglamour.com – are as practical as they are elegant. All Grove & Vae jewellery is designed in London, and created using 14k gold vermeil and rhodium-plated sterling (www.backtoglamour.com) silver.


Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard missed third-quarter revenue estimates on Tuesday, hurt by sluggish demand in its convenience stores and fuel businesses amid rising inflationary pressures. Analysts had estimated a quarterly revenue rise of 8% to $21.19 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Its same-store road transportation fuel volumes fell 3% in the United States, impacted by unusual winter conditions and lower traffic. It had dipped 0.8% a year ago. 20,000 locations, potentially making it the biggest foreign buyout in Japanese history. A successful deal between these two leading players in the U.S. Japanese firm cooperates. Couche-Tard also said it remained confident about overcoming antitrust concerns. On an adjusted basis, its quarterly profit of 68 cents per share was in line with estimates. However, its adjusted net income of $641 million for the quarter ended February 2 beat estimates of $622.3 million, driven by higher road transportation fuel gross margins as well as contributions from acquisitions. The Canadian company, which has shown an unwavering commitment to buy Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, saw its quarterly revenue rise 6.5% to $20.90 billion from a year ago. Consumers facing financial strain have increasingly scaled back on expensive as well as non-essential purchases, prompting growing concern among retailers including Circle-K owner Couche-Tard. U.S. retail giants such as Walmart and Target warned of a demand slowdown owing to muted spending as they braced for the impact from import tariffs proposed and implemented by President Donald Trump. Increasing consumer prices and higher interest rates have resulted in low-to-middle income consumers being hesitant about making travel plans, leading to a reduction in fuel consumption, further pressuring demand at companies such as Couche-Tard.
The brand focuses on creating timeless, versatile pieces tailored to the modern woman’s everyday wardrobe. Made by small workshops all over the world, each piece holds a story. After working in the jewellery industry for 10 years, Amelia Bainbridge saw a gap in the market for jewellery that was both beautiful and affordable – and Auree was born in 2014. All Auree pieces are made with the highest quality solid gold, sterling silver or gold vermeil and natural gemstones. Think timeless glamour meets modern minimalism, without the unattainable price tag. Items are produced in developing countries, giving the artisans income to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Founded by Amelia Hitchcock-Merritt in the middle of lockdown at just eighteen, Bijoux De Mimi became one of the fastest growing jewellery brands in the
The second victim, 17, has now died in hospital where he had been fighting for his life following the collision on Friday night on Offoxey Road in Tong, near Shifnal, Shropshire. Officers say the families of those involved in the collision have asked that their privacy is respected at this time as they continue to appeal for information around the collision. A third teenage boy, also aged 17, sustained life-changing injuries but is in a stable condition. One of the occupants of the silver Audi A1, an 18-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene, while another passenger, also aged 17, sustained life-threatening injuries. The Audi A1 was travelling together with red Vauxhall Corsa and a black VW Golf. Inspector Steph Arrowsmith of the force’s serious collision investigation unit, previously said: ‘We’d like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the collision or have dashcam footage of it. We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen or have dashcam footage of the vehicle travelling on Wood Road or Boscobel Lane from Codsall towards Bishops Wood at around 11pm last night. West Mercia Police say the car was travelling together with red Vauxhall Corsa and a black VW Golf, but have stated the other vehicles were not involved in the collision.



If you’re as magpie-like about jewellery as I am, you’ll always be on the lookout for new brands and original pieces to add to your collection. This British brand was launched in the autumn of 2024 by Tofi Caroline Adedoyin, a former investment banking director. But along with the prominent brands we all know and love, there are a load of under-the-radar gems (no pun intended) out there just waiting to be discovered. There are so many amazing affordable and mid-range jewellery brands out there today, with a plethora of choice no matter what your style. Their goal is to make pieces that ‘will be your go-to for years to come’. Otiumberg positions itself as a demi-fine jewellery brand. Her signature T-bar necklaces have been worn by the likes of Taylor Swift. All Grove & Vae jewellery is designed in London, and created using 14k gold vermeil and rhodium-plated sterling silver. The brand’s founders, sisters Christie and Rosanna Wollenberg, believe you shouldn’t just save beautiful jewellery for best, so the sculptural rings and earrings are as practical as they are elegant. Tilly Sveaas founded her eponymous brand in 2016. Born in Hong Kong to British-Norwegian parents, London-based Tilly has been a jewellery designer for over 25 years, creating her first pieces during an extended trip to Bali, where she still produces to this day. If you love keeping things unique and prefer to shop independent, these jewellery brands are worth checking out and keeping in mind for your next purchase.
The brand focuses on creating timeless, versatile pieces tailored to the modern woman’s everyday wardrobe. With Love Darling believes in changing the world one piece of jewellery at a time. I was tired of sacrificing style for quality, or my bank account for both’ says Neima Row founder Naomi Genes. After working in the jewellery industry for 10 years, Amelia Bainbridge saw a gap in the market for jewellery that was both beautiful and affordable – and Auree was born in 2014. All Auree pieces are made with the highest quality solid gold, sterling (
June 14 (Reuters) – High concentrations of phosphorus, an essential element for all biological processes on Earth, have been detected in ice crystals spewed from the interior ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, adding to its potential to harbor life, researchers reported on Wednesday. The findings were published by a German-led international team of scientists in the journal Nature and announced by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) outside of Los Angeles, which designed and built the Cassini probe. The latest study stems from measurements taken by Cassini as it flew through salt-rich ice grains ejected into space from geysers erupting from the subsurface ocean beneath Enceladus’ frozen crust at its south pole. Frank Postberg, a planetary scientist at the Free University in Berlin, said in a JPL press release. The spacecraft gathered its data during passes through a plume of ice crystals itself, and through the same material that feeds Saturn’s faint “E” ring with icy particles outside the planet’s brighter main rings. The same team previously confirmed that Enceladus’ ice grains contain a rich assortment of minerals and complex organic compounds, including the ingredients for amino acids, associated with life as scientists know it. But phosphorus, the least abundant of six chemical elements considered necessary to all living things – the others are carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur – was still missing from the equation until now. Phosphorus is fundamental to the structure of DNA and a vital part of cell membranes and energy-carrying molecules existing in all forms of life on Earth.
The interior ocean discovered by Cassini has made Enceladus – about one-seventh the size of Earth’s moon and the sixth largest among Saturn’s 146 known natural satellites – a prime candidate in the search for places in our solar system beyond Earth that are habitable, if only to microbes. Life, either past or present, has not been confirmed anywhere beyond Earth. Christopher Glein, a planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Still, scientists stressed that the presence of phosphorus, complex organic compounds, water and other fundamental building blocks of life are evidence only that a place such as Enceladus is potentially habitable, not that is inhabited. Another is Jupiter’s larger moon Europa, which also is believed to harbor a global ocean of liquid water beneath its icy surface. One notable aspect of the latest Enceladus discovery was geochemical modeling by the study’s co-authors in Europe and Japan showing that phosphorus exists in concentrations at least 100 times that of Earth’s oceans, bound water-soluble forms of phosphate compounds.
Western and regional powers are desperate to steer Syria onto the road to stability after 14 years of civil war that have sent millions of refugees over its borders. The drop came despite European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen saying Brussels was stepping up its commitment for this year and next to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) to help those in Syria and neighbouring countries. Syria’s new rulers — headed by former Islamist rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa — have been clamouring for assistance to help the country’s recovery.
THAT’S an expensive spelling mistake! Mr Bernard told news website WFAA that he spotted the sale as he was browsing the catalog, and he decided it would make a great anniversary gift for his wife. At first he thought the price of the silver and gold necklace – inlaid with diamond accents – was too good to be true, but when he went to his local Macy’s store in Plano, Texas, he found a line of people purchasing the item. A $1,500 necklace was accidentally advertised for just $47 in a Macy’s catalog sent to customers across the country. Too good to be true: Robert Bernard (pictured) spotted the deal and purchased the necklace as an anniversary gift for his wife. So Mr Bernard ordered two of the necklaces to be shipped to his home, and the oblivious shop clerk handed him his receipt which read: ‘Total Savings: $1,400’. The message went on to explain that customers who purchased the necklace at the $47 price were ‘fortunate’, but that Mr Bernard, who has since been offered a full refund, was not so lucky. Macy’s stores, according to customer Robert Bernard. After discovering the mistake the retailer was forced to cancel orders for the necklace, but not before an undisclosed number of people managed to snag the impossible deal. The 14-karat gold and silver item with diamond accents, which was listed as a ‘Super Buy’, was intended to be on sale for $479, but the final digit was accidentally left off of the price. In fact, the customer right in front of him ended up buying every necklace in stock. The magazine was not only mailed to customers across the U.S. A few days later though, a Macy’s representative left Mr Bernard a voicemail explaining their mistake and cancelling the order.

If you’re as magpie-like about jewellery as I am, you’ll always be on the lookout for new brands and original pieces to add to your collection. Tilly Sveaas founded her eponymous brand in 2016. Born in Hong Kong to British-Norwegian parents, London-based Tilly has been a jewellery designer for over 25 years, creating her first pieces during an extended trip to Bali, where she still produces to this day. Her signature T-bar necklaces have been worn by the likes of Taylor Swift. Otiumberg positions itself as a demi-fine jewellery brand. There are so many amazing affordable and mid-range jewellery brands out there today, with a plethora of choice no matter what your style. The brand’s founders, sisters Christie and Rosanna Wollenberg, believe you shouldn’t just save beautiful jewellery for best, so the sculptural rings and earrings are as practical as they are elegant. Their goal is to make pieces that ‘will be your go-to for years to come’. But along with the prominent brands we all know and love, there are a load of under-the-radar gems (no pun intended) out there just waiting to be discovered. This British brand was launched in the autumn of 2024 by Tofi Caroline Adedoyin, a former investment banking director. All Grove & Vae jewellery is designed in London, and created using 14k gold vermeil and rhodium-plated sterling silver. If you love keeping things unique and prefer to shop independent, these jewellery brands are worth checking out and keeping in mind for your next purchase.
It was established in 2009, with the ethos that jewellery should say a lot about who you are, whether big and bold or delicate and gold. The ranges include a collaboration with Vogue Williams. Abby is a big believer in the talismanic and restorative power of jewellery, and strives to create designs that are both ethical and fashioned with love. After growing up in Singapore, founder Lynette Ong left her job in finance to pursue a dream of using her creativity for the better. Olivia’s pursuit began when she identified a gap in the jewellery market – the need for everyday pieces that wouldn’t fade after a few wears – with this every piece comes with a lifetime guarantee against colour fading. Dreamt up on a bicycle ride through Rajasthan, India, the British jewellery brand Memara was launched in 2019, with the aim to create beautiful, timeless yet affordable demi-fine pieces. Scream Pretty’s signature style is the curated ear – combining piercings and ear cuffs, to create bold stand out styling. The brand is named after Olivia’s mother Deborah Louise who Olivia sadly lost to cancer in 2017. With the loss of her mother, Olivia felt life was too short to not be truly passionate about the everyday and D.Louise was born. Pieces are made in