UNESCO Secretary-General introduces the International Year of Crystallography 2014

This is the French-language version of the message from UNESCO Secretary General Irina Bokova contributed to the virtual press conference launching IYCr2014.

A century ago, it was discovered that X-rays could be used to 'see' the structure of matter in a non-intrusive manner. Today, X-ray crystallography has become the leading technique for studying the structure of matter at the atomic or molecular level.

The International Year commemorates the centennial of the discovery of X-ray crystallography, thanks to the work of William Henry Bragg, William Lawrence Bragg and Max von Laue.

Today, crystallography underpins all the sciences. It forms the backbone of a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, agri-foodstuffs, aeronautics, computing, mining and space sciences. It is essential for the development of almost all new materials.

Throughout the year, UNESCO and the International Union of Crystallography will be providing interested governments with guidance on curricular and research development. We shall be organizing a number of open labs in developing countries, in order to show how crystallography works, in partnership with private companies. I wish to invite all governments to join us in raising the flag for crystallography throughout 2014 and beyond.

Category: Science & Technology. Duration: 2m 3s
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence

Seeing Things in a Different Light

How X-ray crystallography revealed the structure of everything

X-ray crystallography might seem like an obscure, even unheard of field of research; however structural analysis has played a part in almost every major scientific field since its discovery 100 years ago by William Henry and William Lawrence Bragg.

In this Friday Evening Discourse at the Royal Institution, Professor Stephen Curry charts the discovery and development of this extraordinary technique, starting with a simple explanation of diffraction, moving through the integral work of the Braggs, and ending with the cutting edge uses that X-ray crystallography has found in the modern world.

This film is part of the Crystallography Collection: a series of short films produced by the Ri Channel, with the support of STFC, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of X-Ray Crystallography by the Braggs.

Published: 2013
Filmed: 2013. Duration: 1h 2m 47s
Credits: Royal Institution

 License: Creative Commons

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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