Chemistry By Design

The Naked Scientists Podcast

Dr Chris Smith

Science Radio, Engineering, Naked Scientists, Natural Sciences, Technology, Life Sciences, Health & Fitness, Medicine, Science

4.6 • 957 Ratings

🗓️ 13 August 2011

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Are designer molecules poised to take us into a new chemical dimension? This week, we explore how, long before the bunsen burner gets lit, computer aided chemistry can enable us to create in silico imaginary new molecules, reactions and designer catalysts. We also delve into how chemicals are manufactured on a massive scale with a visit to a plant making zeolites. And in the news, how hydrogen-metabolising bugs can supercharge deep-sea mussels, how reprogrammed immune system cells can hunt-down cancer, and nature's stock exchange - how plants and fungi develop a subsoil free-market economy... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Transcript

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0:00.0	Stripping down science, the naked scientists.
0:07.0	The Naked Scientists. Hello, it's Sunday the 14th of August. Welcome to the naked scientists. I'm
0:26.7	Chris Smith and here with us this week is Helen Scales, hello home.
0:29.2	Hello. Now this week we're exploring the world of designer chemistry, finding out how we can
0:34.8	design specific chemical structures to make enzymes, vaccines, drugs, even molecules that have
0:40.1	never existed in nature.
0:42.1	So how do scientists do that? We'll also be slipping into
0:46.3	the suds to solve this question of the week. I sometimes like a nice warm bath in the
0:51.3	winter. After a while, the bath gets colder.
0:54.5	I know there are a few ways that the bath can lose heat,
0:57.1	but does a thick layer of bubbles on the top
0:59.4	make any significant difference to the heat retention.
1:03.0	So do bubbles keep you warm in the tub, we'll find out.
1:06.1	And also in the news this week, how muscles harbour hydrogen fuel cells to generate energy
1:10.4	underwater and how scientists can reprogram the immune system to
1:14.3	selectively combat cancer. That's coming up. So if you've got any questions or
1:18.4	comments for the show, get in touch right now. Tweet at Naked scientists, write on our Facebook page that's at the naked scientist.com
1:27.0	forward slash Facebook or you can drop us an email. Our address is Chris at the naked scientist
1:32.2	dot com. Our address is Chris at the Naked Scientist.com.
1:32.8	The Naked Scientists Podcast is powered by UK Fast.
1:38.6	The UK's best hosting provider on the web at UKfast.co.uk.
1:44.0	This is the Naked Scientist with Chris Smith and with Helen Scales
	...

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