Synchrotron technology

The science behind the giant machine and the intense beams of light it produces

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Synchrotron
• science
• x-rays

[DiamondLightSource]

Seem to have trouble putting in a link even to cut and paste - search for Diamond Light Source podcast and you should find us!

[DiamondLightSource]

Protein structure solutions are one element of what we do, there are many others, from studying samples of the Mary Rose, through fundamental physics to environmental applications. There quite a few good examples in our podcast. It's not one experiment, we have about 2000 scientific users every year from all over the world, but other countries also have their own synchrotrons, e.g. ESRF in France.

[Morrgore]

@jadotjolais Things are becoming clearer now thank you. I talk to people at work about how fantastic science is and they always say that it never affects their lives. They see no value in pure research, even after I explain the wonderful spin-offs e.g. THE INTERNET, PET scanners and revolutionising our world of digital photography (Hubble Space Telescope started being design the day i was born) What conversation stopper could I use explaining Synchrotron technology?

[jadotjolais]

@Morrgore As far as I know the synchrotron is mainly used for protein structure determinations which can be used in drug design, introducing mutations into proteins (engineering proteins to degrade plastic or convert toxicants into nontoxic chemicals). I don't know about international use of the synchrotron, but there is a group called SER-CAT (Southeast Regional Collaborative Access Team) who work with synchrotron.

[jadotjolais]

Protein structures are "solved" by shining light (x-ray) at the protein crystal, looking at the diffraction pattern of the light, and then based on the pattern trying to figure out how the light has moved through the crystal. I can't explain that well, I'm an undergraduate still learning myself.

[Morrgore]

@jadotjolais Fascinating thank you, I understand that Newton invented calculus to determine the orbit of the planets. How does that relate to protein structures? Is there a master plan for the synchrotron? How many countries are conducting experiments there? This seems to be a massive experiment, is there any way that there could be better coverage in the media? I would be happy to help if there is. My degree was in video production and would be over joyed to help in advertising on youtube.

[jadotjolais]

@Morrgore I work for a professor that uses the synchrotron to help solve protein structures. Proteins are crystallized and placed in the path of the x-ray beamline. The diffracted light pattern is analyzed using advanced calculus to determine the structure. I believe they also use it to solve virus structures.

[Morrgore]

This is all very impressive, but what does it do? Who would use it and for what purpose? What are you trying to discover? I know all about the LHC trying to understand mass, dark matter and higher dimensions, but whats this? Where is it? How long have scientists been working on it? When did it become operational?

[DrQxx]

Extremely awesome project.

[maglight117]

awsome vid am subscribing