The Mystery of Matter: Search for the Elements

This three-part series is about the search for elements from early alchemists to atomic science in the 20th century to today. But behind this search are the historical scientists who made the discoveries, and how they made them. The films profile scientists Joseph Priestley, Antoine Lavoisier, Humphry Davy, Ernest Rutherford, Dmitri Mendeleev, Marie Curie, and Glenn Seaborg. The stories of discovery show how the personalities of the scientists influence how they made the discoveries. The words of the actors playing the characters are generally taken from their writings.

It's a series of well-rounded vignettes, invoking the historical period the discoveries were made. In the process, we're taught the story of the discovery of all elements, and some fundamental chemistry. I love the combination of science and history. Michael Emerson's narration, presentations and on-screen experiments are engaging, and the contributions of scientists and historians help tell the stories. It would be great to see more of these kinds of films about the history of science in other disciplines.

Humans on this planet need to learn and know more about these thing what we intellectuals think of as normal. 76% of humans today have no idea what geology and chemistry already know with certainty. This would eventually reprogram those interested and youthful individuals and disregard those hilarious quips about religion, Jesus and the almighty god! More more more!

This three-episode series on the history of the "search for the elements" is a fascinating exploration into what otherwise might be a rather dry topic. I was never really a fan of chemistry class growing up, so I was surprised by just how much I was drawn into this. I think it was so enjoyable because it presents one of the most basic quandaries in the universe - what is matter? - and goes through historical man's attempts to solve this with clear and thoughtful explanations.

The episodes bring us into the story at a moment in history (late 1700s) when the prevailing theory of phlogiston is about to be upended, thereby bringing humanity into the age of modern chemistry. Over time, we see how a handful of key figures are able to isolate various elements, study their properties, arrange them systematically in the periodic table, and uncover new and unusual elements through increasingly sophisticated methods. But this isn't just a purely scientific examination of the story; we also get to know the historical contexts in which these figures lived, as well as the personal and professional challenges they faced while making their discoveries.

Michael Emerson does a surprisingly good job as the narrator of this series, and the historical re-enactments are done with professional polish. The stories are accompanied by commentary from various experts who provide context for different discoveries, and on-screen graphics give much-needed visual assistance to help viewers understand the increasingly complex theories that are discussed.

Overall, this is an excellent series for anyone interested in the history of ideas.