Throwback Thursday – Name the Scientist

Chemist Glenn Seaborg stands next to a periodic table. He is pointing at the synthetic element seaborgium, which is named after him. Dr. Seaborg, a former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemestry in 1951.

This scientist is best known for discovering an important element, as well as winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His other claim to fame – and the one he apparently cherished most highly – was having an element named in his honor. What was the scientist’s name? What element did he discover and which one was named for him?

Author: Moderator

Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

11 thoughts on “Throwback Thursday – Name the Scientist”

  1. This is dear Prof. Glenn Theodore Seaborg. He discovered seaborgium and held more than 40 patents, including one issued for americium and curium.

  2. My wife, Lois Speaker, remembers hearing Dr. Seaborg speak around 1958-59, when she was a chemistry graduate student at the University of Tennessee.

    Joe Gilliland

  3. In 1992 I had the honor of presenting Prof. Seaborg with the ANS Historic Site recognition for the laboratory room where he and his colleagues separated and identified their first plutonium sample. Dr. Seaborg, his back already bent with age, towered over me and a former student of his from those early days (who was even shorter than me) who joined us as we climbed the flights of stairs from his office up to the top story lab room.

    Together we chose the spot on the wall for the ANS certificate. Dr. Seaborg thanked ANS for the recognition. And frankly, I cannot remember that former student’s name or if anyone else was with us.

    This week Sandy and I are visiting our daughter Liz Laats in San Diego and all of my dusty file boxes are back home in Sarasota FL. If anyone reads this who can help with the memories, I’d welcome every word. I sure don’t want to forget that experience.

  5. Yes, this is Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, who, along with Edwin McMillan, discovered plutonium in February 1941. In August 1997, element 106 was named in his honor — seaborgium (Sg). (And, yes, he’s pointing to it!) Dr. Seaborg served as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1961 to 1971, longer than any other chairman. Dr. Seaborg died in 1999.

    Moderator

  6. It helped me that he was pointing to “Sg” on the periodic table! Wish Jeopardy was this easy! (:-)

  7. Prof. Seaborg, who discovered the element, Seaborgium, named after him.

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