VIDEO: Chemistry pioneer sets her sights on rare earth oxides

Prof. Alexandra Navrotsky of DCO's Extreme Physics and Community has developed a levitation technique for measuring thermodynamic properties under extreme conditions. According to Navrotsky, "Thermodynamic properties and melting relations of oxides at high temperature are essential for modeling phase equilibria in the Earth’s deep interior. Because of their role as geochemical and isotopic tracers, the rare earths are especially important."