Tantalum

Nottingham Trams – formally known as Nottingham Express Transit (NET) – began operation in March 2004. Phase Two, which was completed in 2014 and more than doubled the size of the total system, services the University of Nottingham.

Two tram bridges formed a major part Phase Two. One was constructed over Nottingham Railway Station, and the other was named the Ningbo Friendship Bridge to acknowledge the links between the city of Ningbo in China, and the University of Nottingham.

Did you know that horse-drawn trams first began operating in Nottingham in 1878, with a steam tram service introduced in 1880? But it wasn’t until 1901 when the first electric trams began to run, finally replaced in 1936 by the Nottingham trolleybus system.

Previously known as tantalium, its name comes from Tantalus, a villain from Greek mythology.

Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-grey, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion-resistant. In its pure form it can be drawn into a fine wire.

It was discovered in 1802 by Anders Ekeberg.