Andre Geim on levitating frogs, graphene and 2D materials

The Life Scientific

BBC

Technology, Personal Journals, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 23 May 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The world around us is three-dimensional. Yet, there are materials that can be regarded as two-dimensional. They are only one layer of atoms thick and have remarkable properties that are different from their three-dimensional counterparts. Sir Andre Geim created the first-ever man-made 2D material, by isolating graphene, and is one of the pioneers in this line of research. Even beyond his Nobel Prize-winning work on graphene, he has explored new ideas in many different areas of physics throughout his career. Andre tells Jim about his time growing up in the Soviet Union, being rejected from university based on his German ethnicity, his move to Western Europe, and levitating frogs. Produced by Florian Bohr.

Transcript

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0:00.0	He's a rule breaker, a trend setter. He reshaped art and redefined graffiti.
0:07.4	How does he smell?
0:08.4	Like paint.
0:09.3	Has he got any distinction features?
0:10.8	His anonymity.
0:11.9	But who is he?
0:13.2	What's his name?
0:14.1	Banksy.
0:15.0	Apparently I've met him twice.
0:16.5	The Banksy story.
0:18.0	Banksy's work is always about the human spirit versus establishment.
0:24.2	Listen on BBC Science.
0:27.4	BBC Science, Music, Radio, Podcasts.
0:32.4	Hello, the world around us is three-dimensional.
0:36.2	The microphone I'm speaking into now, the chair I'm sitting on, this studio, my body.
0:41.4	They all occupy 3D space, and of course are made from matter that is three-dimensional.
0:46.6	I mean, how could it be any different?
0:48.6	Well, my guest today created the first ever man-made material
0:52.9	that can be regarded as two-dimensional.
0:55.7	By isolating something called graphene.
0:58.4	It consists of a single layer of carbon atoms tightly packed together in a lattice structure,
1:04.0	a bit like the surface of a honeycomb.
	...

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