New York Times best-selling science writer and author Sam Kean will visit Missouri State University on March 30 to speak about his book “The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of Elements.”

The book follows the tale of each element in the periodic table, revealing how they fit into history and the unique personalities of the people who discovered them.

Kean has been featured in a number of publications, including The Atlantic and The New York Times Magazine. “The Disappearing Spoon” and another of his novels “The Violinist’s Thumb” were national bestsellers, and both were categorized by Amazon as two of the best science books of the year.

Event details

The event is taking place from 5-6 p.m. March 30 in the Plaster Student Union Theater. There will be a book signing afterward, and those in attendance will have the opportunity to purchase signed copies of “The Disappearing Spoon.”

The talk, sponsored by the Missouri State University chemistry department, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Bryan Breyfogle, chemistry department head, at (417) 836-5601.