Cobalt
Cobalt has been hoodwinking people since the day it was pried from the earth. Named after a pesky spirit from German folklore, trickery is embedded in its name.\xa0\xa0\nIn 1940s Netherlands, cobalt lived up to its name in a big way, playing a starring role in one of the most embarrassing\xa0art swindles of the 19th century. It\u2019s a story of duped Nazis, a shocking court testimony, and one fateful mistake.\nWant to stay up to speed with\xa0Science Diction? Sign up for our newsletter.\n\n\nThe infamous Han van Meegeren, hard at work.\n(Wikimedia Commons)\n\n\nGuest:\xa0\nKassia St. Clair is a writer and cultural historian based in London.\nFootnotes And Further Reading:\xa0\nFor fascinating histories on every color you can imagine, read Kassia St. Clair\u2019s The Secret Lives of Color.\nThanks to Jennifer Culver for background information on the kobold.\nRead more about Han van Meegeren in The Forger\u2019s Spell by Edward Dolnick and in the 2009 series \u201cBamboozling Ourselves\u201d in the New York Times.\nCredits:\xa0\nScience Diction is written and produced by Johanna Mayer, with production and editing help from Elah Feder. Our senior editor is Christopher Intagliata, with story editing help from Nathan Tobey. Our theme song and music are by Daniel Peterschmidt. We had fact-checking help from Michelle Harris, and mixing help from Kaitlyn Schwalje. Special thanks to the entire Science Friday staff.