Chemistry for the Future: Incredible Machines

Chemistry for the Future: Incredible Machines

It was here in Oxford, in the 1600s, that great minds such as Hooke, Boyle, Willis and Wren laid the foundations of modern experimental science. Like their famous forebears, today’s Oxford scientists continue to undertake world-leading research: making fundamental new discoveries and applying cutting-edge knowledge to the major societal and technological challenges of the day. The research happening right now in the Department of Chemistry is uniquely poised to have a major impact on everything from our health to our energy sources – in other words, it is enabling our shared future. To read more about our research, please visit http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/researchthemes.asp. Not all chemistry takes place in test tubes. This series focuses on the amazing machines, from hand-blown glass to ultracold molecular beams, used by Oxford chemists every single day.

Episodes

June 23, 2014 5 mins
Dr Richard Cooper on x-ray crystallography - an incredibly powerful technique for determining the 3D structure of crystals.
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The Zeeman Deceleator is used to do ‘ultracold chemistry’ – slowing down molecules in order to study reactions. Katrin Dulitz shows off her amazing machine.
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June 19, 2014 4 mins
Dr Ashley Shepherd concludes the Incredible Machines series by explaining what makes her the most excited about working as a scientist in the Department of Chemistry.
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From cutting-edge cancer research to sustainable fish farming, Dr James McCullagh explains the importance of mass spectrometry.
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Watch glassblower Terri Adams in action as she creates scientific tools from the flames.
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June 19, 2014 8 mins
Dr Tim Claridge takes apart an NMR machine to show us how this technique is used in research with application in human health and beyond.
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The Stark Decelerator was built from scratch in the basement of the Chemistry Department. Dr Brianna Heazelwood shows how this incredible device is used to study molecules.
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June 19, 2014 4 mins
Dr Ashley Shepherd introduces the extraordinary machines used by Oxford chemists, and tells us about her work as a surface analyst.
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