The ACSJ Presents: Scott Nickle - H2O? How Do We know?

H2O? How Do We know?

Surely the most famous chemical formula is H2O. But, how do we know it is right? None of my science teachers ever told me, and in fact, one of my science teachers told me we DON'T know if it is right or not (she was wrong). I will tell you the story of how we DO know it is right, and of some of the amazing amateur and professional scientists who figured it out.

Scott Nickle is the son of a radio and TV engineer, who kind of fell into Silicon Valley by accident. He has worked in the tech industry for about 28 years, with about a decade hiatus as a videotape rental entrepreneur. After his last tech employer company was bought out by a competitor in order to kill it, he found himself unemployed. Fortunately, he was in a financial position where he could remain in the Valley on minimum wage, so he went to work at Barnes and Noble, where he discovered that peddling knowledge is his true calling. He is an Atheist due to his love of Science, but he considers that label to be among his lesser qualities.