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25/02/2014

To mark the International Year of Crystallography, Adam Walton learns more about this breakthrough science and how it is being used in Wales to advance cancer treatment.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 2 Mar 2014 06:30

X- Ray Crystallography

It's been described as 'the breakthrough science': the study of crystals and their structure. And it's led to some of the听 most significant scientific findings of the last century such as revealing the structure of penicillin and DNA.听听This year is听the International Year of Crystallography and the centenary of the discovery of X-ray diffraction. So听Science Cafe decided to听take a closer look at its history and achievements.听

Adam Walton is joined by leading Welsh Chemist Sir John Meurig Thomas and science writer and broadcaster Georgina Ferry, who talk him through the personalitlies and breakthroughs听in crystallography. 听Sir John has written widely about the remarkable Bragg father-and-son team whose pioneering work revolutionised our understanding of solids. Georgina Ferry has written the biographies of two important crystallographers;听Max Perutz and Dorothy Hodgkin.We also take a trip to the Cardiff laboratory of Dr Pierre Rizkallah, where the technique is being used today to find new drugs to treat cancer.听

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Broadcasts

  • Tue 25 Feb 2014 18:30
  • Sun 2 Mar 2014 06:30

Adam Walton

Adam Walton

Adam's "other job" - tune in every Saturday at 10 PM for the best new music from Wales.