Inert materials & the Mary Celeste | The chemical breakdown podcast
From Chemistry in its element by Chemistry World
April 16, 2026 · 31 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the importance of inert materials in experiments and explores the mystery of the Mary Celeste through a chemical lens.
This week, we discuss how to ensure experimental instruments are truly inert and chemistry's answer to the fate of the Mary Celeste, with Phillip Broadwith and Mason Wakley. A new study has demonstrated how unexpected results can arise from experiments using seemingly inert materials. How do we avoid the effects of these accidental reagents? And, scientists may have found the answer behind what happened to the crew of the infamous ship the Mary Celeste. We explain how chemistry may fill the gaps.
People in this episode
Guests: Phillip Broadwith, Mason Wakley
Topics covered
- inert materials
- experimental instruments
- Mary Celeste
- unexpected results
- accidental reagents
- chemistry
Keywords
- inert materials
- experimental instruments
- Mary Celeste
- unexpected results
- accidental reagents
- chemistry
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Mary Celeste
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