There, mineralogists were able to relate the stone to synthetic BiSbO 4 – bismuth antimonate – though with the formula Bi 3+ Sb 5+ O 4, an arrangement never before found in nature.

Ram Mohan looks at how bismuth — a remarkably harmless element among the toxic heavy metals in the periodic table — has sparked interest in areas varying from medicinal to industrial chemistry.

Admittedly, we have a pretty low bar for that kind of stuff, but eye candy aside, [Robin Debreuil]’s quick outline of his technique for desoldering with the help of bismuth is worth watching.