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Oxygen
Who discovered oxygen? Priestley? Lavoisier? Scheele?

This play, written by chemists Carl Djerass and Roald Hoffmann, tells the story of a fictitious modern day Nobel panel's attempt to determine who discovered oxygen. The story is told in a series of flashbacks to the 18th century lives of Joseph Priestley, Antoine Lavoisier, and Carl Wilhelm Scheele and presents three experiments, one reflecting the work of each scientist.

The play has been staged widely; this professionally recorded version is from a theater production at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and includes personal interviews with the authors and director.

Explore science history, the human side of scientists, competition, collaboration, and the meaning of discovery. 130 minutes.

DVDs are available for cost of postage to you, as long as we have some copies. e-mail Roald at rh34@cornell.edu