Learn about crystallography through watching
Below are listed some interesting video clips, webcasts, television programmes and films that explain crystallography. Click on the large images to download a video file, watch the clip, or be directed to an external website. Click on the smaller images for more information.
A selection of videos from the International Year of Crystallography playlist on YouTube
Rigaku International Year of Crystallography 2014 Sponsor Video
Rigaku was one of the sponsors of the IYCr2014 Opening Ceremony and this video was prepared for the event and shown to the audience during the second day.
Category: Science & Technology. Duration: 2m 10s
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence
The Royal Institution Crystallography Collection
Mars Diffracts! X-ray crystallography and space exploration
An epic journey into the role of X-ray diffraction in space
Astrobiologist and intrepid science communicator Lewis Dartnell reveals the crucial role that X-ray crystallography is playing in understanding the formation and history of our planetary neighbour, Mars.
Explaining the techniques used by the Curiosity Rover to analyse the Martian surface, Lewis reveals what the discovery of clay might mean for the possibility of life on the Red Planet.
Joined by space scientists responsible for designing and operating instruments over 60 million kilometres away, Lewis delves into the mysteries of interplanetary exploration including: How do you design reliable instruments for use on other planets? Should we send humans to Mars? And, what does the next mission to the Red Planet look like?
Featuring instrument scientist Graeme Hansford (University of Leicester) and John Bridges, a participating scientist with the NASA Mars Science Laboratory working on the current Curiosity mission.
This film was produced by Thom Hoffman and supported by the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC).
Published: 2014
Filmed: 2014. Duration: 11m 43s
Credits: Thom Hoffman
The Mystery of the Giant Crystals
The film El Misterio de los Cristales Gigantes (The Mystery of the Giant Crystals) has been made freely available by Madrid Scientific Films and Triana Sci & Tech with the support of the International Union of Crystallography as an educational contribution to the International Year of Crystallography 2014. Written and presented by Juan Manuel García Ruiz and directed by Javier Trueba, the film tells the story of the scientific investigation into the nature and properties of the giant gypsum crystals found in a silver mine in Mexico in 2000.
Trailer |
Follow this link to read more about the project or to donate to the work of Triana Sci & Tech |
Streaming HD video
Click on the images below to view the film in high definition in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
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
Educational videos
Georgina Ferry on X-ray crystallography
Georgina Ferry is a freelance science writer, editor and broadcaster. In this video she discusses the fascinating history of X-ray crystallography as well as why it is so important today.
Created in support of 'From Atoms to Patterns' at Wellcome Collection.
http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/from-atoms-to-patterns.aspx
Category: Science & Technology. Duration: 6m 54s
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence
Historical videos
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



![[Rigaku]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0008/96740/rigaku.jpg)
UNESCO Secretary-General introduces IYCr2014 (English)
Growing crystals: the Canberra competition
IUCr President introduces the International Year of Crystallography 2014
The importance of X-ray crystallography in the materials and biological sciences
BBC World News: Crystallography: 19 December 2013
¿Qué es un cristal?
About the International Year of Crystallography
IYCr Latin American Summit meeting on Biological Crystallography and Complementary Methods
The importance of crystallography in our daily lives
Concurso de Cristalización en la Escuela: Final 2014
The role of crystals in human life
What crystallography can do for you
Diving into the heart of the molecules of life
The role of crystals in human life
Commemorative Postage Stamp release
UN Secretary General launches IYCr2014
Cristalografía de rayos X, una historia de cien años
The role of crystals in human life
How to grow a single crystal with Johanna
Año Internacional de la cristalografía en América Latina y el Caribe
Final of the 2014 Crystallization Competition for Schools in Spain![[Mars rover]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0003/96906/mars.jpg)
Tales from the prep room: diffraction
Sir Lawrence Bragg: crystals and gems
Forbidden crystal symmetry in mathematics and architecture
Understanding Crystallography: Part Two. From Crystal to Diamond
Célébrons la cristallographie! (French language version)
The humble Braggs and X-ray crystallography: Solving the patterns of matter
Structure and Order. A century of symmetry with Judith Howard
Celebrating crystallography: 100 years of crystallography
Understanding Crystallography: Part One. From protein to crystal
Seeing things in a different light: Friday Evening Discourse with Stephen Curry![[Inside the Naica caves]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0003/102846/giant_crystals.jpg)
![[Inside the Naica caves]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0020/102881/giant_crystals2.jpg)
![[Inside the Naica caves]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0003/102882/giant_crystals3.jpg)
![[Inside the Naica caves]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0004/102883/giant_crystals4.jpg)
![[Georgina Ferry on X-ray crystallography]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0004/73921/ferry.jpg)
Crystals - how and why to study them (Russian)
Proyecto Krystalla: school crystallization contest in Andalusia
Celebrating the International Year of Crystallography with methylation of Nod Factor
The decoding step of protein synthesis: EF-Tu delivers aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome
Crystallography and the reciprocal space (French)
Manchester and Bragg
A Case of Crystal Clarity: an adventure in X-ray crystallography
Revolutionary Biology Part 1: the building blocks of life![[Patience Thomson]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0007/73924/patience_thomson.jpg)
The Braggs' legacy
Crystallographers in Conference 1965
Dorothy Hodgkin, Biochemist