Crystallographer Unravels Molecular Mystery
The article highlights the story of a crystallographer who successfully solved a complex molecular mystery, showcasing their expertise and the significance of their discovery in the field of science.
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Crystallography
All articles tagged with #crystallography
"Scientists Prove Doubters Wrong by Creating Record-Breaking Quasicrystal"
Scientists have created the largest-ever quasicrystal, a structure that was previously considered impossible, by jiggling thousands of metal beads in a tray for a week. Quasicrystals are crystals that have an ordered arrangement of atoms but do not repeat in a regular pattern. The researchers used computer simulations to determine the best types of particles to form a large quasicrystal and found that two particles should be used. The resulting quasicrystal had a tiled, non-repeating structure composed of large and small spheres. While practical applications for quasicrystals are still in the future, their unique properties could have potential uses in heat shielding, steel reinforcement, and bone repair.
Revolutionizing Time-Resolved Crystallography with Spitrobot Technology
Scientists in Hamburg have developed the Spitrobot, a device that simplifies observing changes in proteins and makes time-resolved crystallography more accessible to non-specialist research groups. The device simplifies the entire sample preparation process, from fixing protein crystals to cryo-trapping proteins at various stages of transformation. This innovation will accelerate fundamental research in health and disease, as it enables more research groups to conduct experiments that were previously exclusive to experts.
Unraveling the Mystery of Cubic Ice at Molecular Scale
Scientists have used transmission electron microscopy to track the formation of cubic ice at the molecular level, providing new insights into the structure of this rare form of ice. The researchers found that cubic ice forms through a two-step process, with the formation of a metastable precursor phase preceding the formation of the final cubic ice structure. The study sheds light on the crystallography of cubic ice and could have implications for understanding ice formation in the atmosphere and in materials science.