The role of crystals in human life

The role of crystals in human life was a competition launched during the International Year of Crystallography for secondary-school and university students in Poland. It was organised to increase public awareness of:

• the presence of crystals in everyday life
• the way in which crystallography underlies most technological developments in our modern society.

Participants in the competition were asked to prepare a poster, a presentation or a video clip on the role of crystals in human life.

This entry was awarded the third prize in the High School category and was contributed by Aleksandra Dziula of Technikum Chemiczne in Krakow.

Category: People & Blogs. Duration: 5m 59s
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

Revolutionary Biology. Part 1

The building blocks of life

Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells, which all have to communicate with each other for things to work correctly.

As well as performing many functions in the body, proteins help our cells to communicate. Every protein within the body has its own job to do. Some are involved in structural support and bodily movement, while others help us fight off germs.

When a protein’s function is inhibited, cell communication is compromised, which can cause diseases such as cancer.

It makes you wonder how it all works. Is it just luck or organised chaos?  Find out more in Part 2: Oxford and the history of structural biology.

Duration: 5m 29s

© 2014 Offices of the Nuffield Professor of Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford

Crystallographers in Conference 1965

During the 1965 International Conference on Crystallography held in Melbourne, the opportunity was taken to record some of the great figures in the history of this subject. The twin topics forming the discussion basis for the conference were electron diffraction and the nature of defects in crystals. Among the distinguished scientists present, many had made special contributions to the research on those topics - had, in fact, pioneered a place for themselves in the story of crystallography.

Filmed at the International Crystallography Conference, 1965, Melbourne, Australia, by the CSIRO Film Unit in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science. With support from UNESCO, the International Council of Scientific Unions, the Australian Academy of Science, the International Union of Crystallography, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the University of Melbourne.

Category: Science & Technology. Duration (complete programme): 41m 44s
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence