Final of the 2014 Crystallization Competition for Schools in Spain

The Crystallization Competition in Schools in Spain aims to introduce the importance of crystallography and its applications to secondary school students. It takes advantage of the natural attraction of the crystallization phenomenon. The competition begins with crystallization and crystallography courses for school teachers, and then allows students to learn how to work as scientists in the lab, to enjoy scientific teamwork and present their results as researchers would do in a scientific conference. It is organized by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Specialized Spanish Group of Crystallography and Crystal Growth (GE3C), and funded by the Spanish Foundation of Science and Technology (FECYT), among other sponsors.

This national edition of the competition, the sixth, is one of the activities of the International Year of Crystallography and has generated enormous interest within the educational community. More than 7,000 students, 286 teachers and 189 schools took part. During April, the best 40 crystallization projects from all over Spain were selected from eight semi-finals that took place in Andalusia, Aragon, Catalonia, Asturias-Galicia-Cantabria, Valencia, Canarias, Madrid and Alcalá de Henares.

The award ceremony was held on 10 May 2014 at CSIC's headquarters. It was attended by the President of CSIC, Prof. Emilio Lora-Tamayo and the President of the International Union of Crystallography, Prof. Gautam Desiraju.

Category: Science & Technology. Duration: 4m 11s
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence

The humble Braggs and X-ray crystallography

Solving the patterns of matter

As the field of crystallography celebrates its centenary year we look back at how it all began – with a father and son team and a humble salt crystal.

With the help of archive footage and historic objects from the Ri, Patience Thomson, daughter of William Lawrence Bragg, presents an intimate portrait of her father. From his detailed artworks to his love of detective stories and puzzles, Patience reveals how Lawrence’s unique character and analytical mindset led to numerous scientific breakthroughs.

Plus, find out how he reacted to receiving news of his Nobel Prize while serving on the front during WW1 at the age of 25 and discover how the Braggs applied their scientific knowledge to aid the war effort.

Professor Stephen Curry is also on hand to demonstrate just how important the Braggs' discovery was and how the field of X-ray crystallography has revealed the structure of hundreds of different molecules, from enzymes and proteins to entire viruses. The Braggs' discoveries of 1913 remain at the foundation of modern day techniques and, to date, 29 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to work related to X-ray crystallography.

Our thanks to Stephen Curry, Patience Thompson, and filmmaker Thom Hoffman.

This film was supported by the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC).

Published: 2013
Filmed: 2013. Duration: 8m 56s
Credits: Thom Hoffman

 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

EF-Tu delivers aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome

The result of studies of molecules of biochemical importance using X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy is usually one or several 3D snapshots of the molecule of interest. However, one can learn much more about an enzyme’s mechanism of action by determining many structures along its functional pathway, in various conformational states or various ligands. These many snapshots can placed in order and when viewed quickly form a movie, like a children’s flip-book. This example, created by Martin Schmeing and Rebecca Voorhees of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, illustrates the decoding step of protein synthesis by the ribosome.

Category: Science & Technology. Duration: 1m 39s
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence

Nobel winners honoured in Adelaide

The Bragg Centenary Symposium occurred at the University of Adelaide on Thursday 6 December 2012, to celebrate the centenary of the first crystal structure determination by X-ray diffraction. Present at the Symposium was Mrs Patience Thomson, daughter of W. L. Bragg. Click on the photograph to see the news item broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Commission featuring Mrs Thomson and her relationship with her father.

Broadcast on ABC News on November 30, 2012. Duration: 5m 51s