BBC World News: Crystallography: 19 December 2013

Professor Stephen Curry, crystallographer and structural biologist at Imperial College London, and Melissa Hogenboom, BBC News Science reporter, join Jon Sopel in a BBC Global interview about crystallography at the start of IYCr 2014.

Category: Science & Technology. Duration: 5m 27s
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence

Understanding crystallography: Part One

From protein to crystal

How can you determine the structure of a complex molecule from a single crystal?

Professor Elspeth Garman take us on a journey into the world of crystallography - from protein production and purification to growing the right type of crystals.

In her laboratory at the University of Oxford Elspeth introduces us to some of the tricks of the trade, key techniques and the machines that help her team grow crystals ready for X-ray analysis at specialist facilities like Diamond Light Source.

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

Published: 2014
Filmed: 2013. Duration: 7m 45s
Credits: Ed Prosser / 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

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

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

© Diamond Light Source