Invisible Science

Although we normally think of electric currents (flow of electrons) as taking place in metallic wires, the movement of electrons is also important in biological processes like photosynthesis and respiration, crucial to life. So how do electrons move through molecules? Can we persuade molecules to behave like wires? Can molecules imitate other electrical components like diodes or switches? In this talk, I will explain how a ‘molecular fishing’ technique has allowed us to begin to address these questions.

Atoms and molecules are too small to be observed by the naked eye so what happens when scientists need to ‘see’ these in order to understand how drugs work or to make medical diagnoses? That’s where Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) comes in, allowing scientists to ‘see’ the invisible. This technique has had a huge impact on medicine, allowing us to safely see inside the body and to develop new drugs.

The world is entering a post-antibiotic era, where resistance to antibiotics could lead to the deaths of ten million people a year globally by 2050. Scientists and engineers have to come up with alternative solutions to counteract microbes and infections. Could nature provide the answer …? Has it already evolved a solution to tackle the rise of the superbugs?