Mercury, also called quicksilver, is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery, transition metal, mercury is one of five elements that are ...

Mercury has several claims to fame: It’s the only metallic element that’s liquid at room temperature, it’s been known to ancient cultures for centuries upon centuries. Buried deep under a mound of ...

Levels of mercury persist in tuna, decades after pollution controls were introduced to limit emissions, scientists say. The poisonous element is released by mining and burning coal and ends up in the ...

I'm blogging about the periodic table this month in conjunction with my new book, The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World From the Periodic Table of ...