X-Ray Vision Unlocks universe’s Secrets, With Comets Next in Sight
Geneva, Switzerland – A technique pivotal in unraveling the atomic structure of matter – X-ray crystallography – continues to drive scientific breakthroughs decades after earning it’s 20th Nobel Prize recognition. From mapping DNA‘s double helix to designing life-saving drugs, the method’s impact is woven into the fabric of modern science, and researchers are now setting thier sights on even more ambitious targets, like analyzing the composition of comets.
X-ray crystallography,which involves bombarding crystals with X-rays and analyzing the diffraction patterns,has fundamentally changed our understanding of the physical world. More than 20 Nobel prizes have been awarded for discoveries made possible by this technique, demonstrating its enduring power and versatility.While the core principle remains the same, advancements in technology and data analysis are constantly expanding its capabilities, opening doors to investigations previously considered impractical.
“It’s a stunning technique,” explains Professor Velbel, a researcher fascinated by the potential of X-ray crystallography. He envisions a future where the technology isn’t confined to terrestrial laboratories, but deployed on space missions to analyze the composition of celestial bodies. “I would like to see what a comet’s ice is,” he says, suggesting that studying comets closely could reveal “interesting mixtures of unusual compounds.”
The technique’s origins trace back to Max von Laue‘s revelation in 1912 that crystals diffract X-rays, and were further developed by William henry Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg, who jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915 for their work. Their pioneering efforts laid the foundation for determining the arrangement of atoms within crystalline solids, a capability that has since revolutionized fields like chemistry, biology, and materials science.
Today, X-ray crystallography is used to determine the structure of proteins, aiding in drug design and understanding disease mechanisms. It’s also crucial in materials science, allowing scientists to engineer new materials with specific properties. The ongoing development of more powerful X-ray sources and complex computational methods promises to further enhance the technique’s resolution and efficiency, paving the way for even more groundbreaking discoveries.
This content is a co-production between Nobel Prize Outreach and the BBC.
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