Mining for Gold (GOLD!)

Mining for Gold (GOLD!)

From Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

December 31, 2025 · 28 min

About this episode

The episode explores the historical and modern significance of gold, including its applications in technology and manufacturing.

From pharaohs' tombs in Ancient Egypt and medieval currency, to priceless royal jewellery and Spandau Ballet songs - gold has been prized for millennia. But it's only really in the last century or so that we've started uncovering its usefulness in less decorative applications. Today, gold is used in masses of electricals; it's also revolutionised part of the manufacturing sector by stopping a dangerous reliance on mercury as a catalyst; and it's vital to space missions. Although there are also some more frivolous modern uses for gold, as Hannah and Dara discover. (Gold-leaf in your cocktail, anyone?) Challenged to find out whether all the world's mined gold would really fit in an Olympic swimming pool, our science-savvy duo discover that this antisocial element might just be the best darn thing on the periodic table... Contributors: - Graham Hutchings, Regius Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cardiff - Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy in the Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter - Tim Peake, Astronaut Producer: Lucy Taylor Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem A BBC Studios Production

People in this episode

Hosts: Hannah, Dara

Guests: Graham Hutchings, Frances Wall, Tim Peake

Topics covered

  • gold
  • ancient history
  • modern applications
  • manufacturing
  • space missions
  • chemistry

Keywords

  • gold
  • ancient Egypt
  • manufacturing
  • space missions
  • chemistry
  • mercury
  • Spandau Ballet

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Cardiff, Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter, BBC Studios

Books & works: Spandau Ballet

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