What crystallography can do for you

The aim of this short video is to announce 2014 as the International Year of Crystallography. Crystallography is that branch of science that is concerned with the investigation of the arrangement of atoms in matter. It is from the basic knowledge of how atoms are linked to each other to form molecules or extended structures that the properties and behaviour of materials can be understood. Crystallography is thus vital in chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, mineralogy, and other disciplines. Hence the title of the video: IYCr2014: What crystallography can do for you. Our commitment for 2014 is to tell the world about the enormous contribution that crystallography makes to society.

Category: Science & Technology. Duration: 1m 24s

 License: Creative Commons

Celebrating crystallography

An animated celebration

X-ray crystallography is arguably one of the greatest innovations of the twentieth century, but not that many people know what it is or how it came about. Join us on an animated journey through the 100 year history of crystallography – from the pioneering work of William and Lawrence Bragg in 1913 to the surface of Mars!

Narrated by structural biologist Stephen Curry and produced by animation company 12foot6, the film explores the extraordinary history of crystallography. To date 28 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to projects related to the field and X-ray crystallography remains the foremost technique in determining the structures of a huge range of complex molecules.

This film was produced in celebration of the Bragg Centenary and was funded by STFC.

Published: 2013
Filmed: 2013. Duration: 3m 5s
Credits: 12foot6 / Royal Institution

License: © Royal Institution

The Mystery of the Giant Crystals

The Cave of the Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales) in the Naica Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico, houses some of the largest natural crystals ever found. They are selenite, a form of the mineral gypsum (CaSO₄.2H₂O). Juan Manuel Garcíia Ruiz and his colleagues investigate the conditions under which these huge crystals have grown over the course of thousands of years. The temperatures in the subterranean caverns are over 50°C, and the caves are filled with water containing a variety of minerals leached from the surrounding rocks.

Duration: 50m 53s

© 2014 Trianatech.com - All rights reserved

El Misterio de los Cristales Gigantes

La Cueva de los Cristales en la mina de Naica, Chihuahua, México, alberga algunos de los más grandes cristales naturales que se han encontrado. Son selenito, una forma del yeso mineral (CaSO₄.2H₂O). Juan Manuel García Ruiz y sus colegas investigan las condiciones en que estos enormes cristales han crecido a lo largo de miles de años. Las temperaturas en las cavernas subterráneas son más de 50° C, y las cuevas están llenas de agua que contiene una variedad de minerales lixiviados de las rocas circundantes.

Duration: 50m 54s

© 2014 Trianatech.com - All rights reserved

Il Mistero dei Cristalli Giganti

La Grotta dei Cristalli (Cueva de los Cristales) nella miniera di Naica, Chihuahua, Messico, ospita alcuni dei più grandi cristalli naturali mai trovati. Si tratta di cristalli di selenite, una particolare forma di gesso (CaSO₄.2H₂O). Juan Manuel García Ruiz e i suoi colleghi indagano sulle condizioni in cui questi enormi cristalli sono cresciuti nel corso di migliaia di anni. La temperatura nelle caverne sotterranee è oltre 50° C, e le grotte sono riempite con acqua contenente una varietà di minerali lisciviati dalle rocce circostanti.

Duration: 50m 58s

© 2014 Trianatech.com - All rights reserved

Le Mystère des Cristaux Géants

La Grotte des Cristaux (Cueva de los Cristales) dans la mine de Naica, Chihuahua, Mexique, abrite quelques-uns des plus grands cristaux naturels jamais trouvés. Ils sont sélénite, une forme de gypse minéral (CaSO₄.2H₂O). Juan Manuel García Ruiz et ses collègues enquêtent sur les conditions dans lesquelles ces énormes cristaux ont grandi au cours de milliers d'années. Les températures dans les cavernes souterraines sont plus de 50° C, et les grottes sont remplis avec de l'eau contenant une variété de minéraux lessivés des roches environnantes.

Duration: 50m 58s

© 2014 Trianatech.com - All rights reserved

5th Moroccan School of Crystallography

STRUCTURE SOLUTION FROM POWDER AND SINGLE-CRYSTAL DATA: The objective of this scientific event, held in Oujda 24th-26th October 2013, was to bring together crystallographers from academia and industry to review the latest developments in the field. The school was intended for PhD and post-doc students, as well as researchers, teachers and engineers.

Category: Science & Technology. Duration (complete programme): 9h 49m 12s (10 videos)
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence

The Braggs' legacy

The sparkling history of crystallography

A documentary charting the history of crystallography that tells a fascinating story of a scientific technique that is revealing many of life’s most beautiful secrets. The film includes exclusive interviews with internationally acclaimed scientists and unique glimpses into rarely seen historical collections.

It celebrates the work and lives of the founding fathers of crystallography, Sir William Henry Bragg and his son, Sir William Lawrence Bragg. It also shows how 21st century science facilities are helping scientists to solve even more complex crystallography problems. Bragg’s Law is one of the most famous equations in science and has played a vital role in many subsequent discoveries, from the development of antibiotics to the uncovering of the double helix in DNA.

The film includes commentary and insight from leading international scientists from the UK, France, Italy, Australia and the USA, including Professor Sir Tom Blundell, Professor William Duax, Professor Davide Viterbo and Professor André Authier. Its launch coincides with UNESCO’s International Year of Crystallography, as well as the centenary of the Nobel Prize for Physics being awarded to the Braggs.

Published: 2014
Filmed: 2013. Duration: 44m 7s

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