In this article I cross check and improve my earlier recall that Rutherford was engaged in a series of exploratory experiments, conceptualized the nucleus and then had a clincher experiment designed that confirmed his hypothesis with extraordinary accuracy.  This is way better than the standard issue fare that suggests the experiment was conducted and then the called over Rutherford. Also in the podcast I doubted my recall that Rutherford was a Kiwi, but that is all true. Podcast Dr Peter Hill   Science teacher / Physicist