Once again Science has proven me wrong.

Human as we are, we often

disregard matters quickly, labelling them insignificant the moment we identify it as
something “puny.” Our species, despite walking straight into advancement, repel
changes towards our mundane everyday life. Perhaps instinct drives us to be wary of
the “new,” thus we cannot help but hold on to this close-minded view of the world where
everything aligns with what we want and what we are used to. Often times, if not
always, it hinders us from our true potential for growth. It cages us into a box forcing us
to be blind of the endless possibilities beyond the realm we perceive. Science has truly
become a channel for the bright minds of our world that have freed themselves from
their cage and eager to embrace change.
Crystallography is a topic that not many are familiar despite it being around for
centuries. For others, it may be basic knowledge but for some, not so much. I only had
the pleasure of meeting crystallography now while others have made it a center of their
lives, revolving around it with much joy for the rest of their being. I have pondered in the
past how things work however; I have never put much effort in truly understanding the
not-so-secret science behind it. Crystallography started more than 100 years ago but
remained significant in the field of Science even now, further developments on the
methods of conducting the experiment still on the way and inventions to quicken its
pace is constantly growing as well. It has not stopped, instead it grew and people found
ways to involve it in areas that perhaps even the one who started it, William and
Lawrence Bragg, never thought of. It goes to show us that even as time passes on and
humans ascend through life moving on to a realm we wish to understand, we carve the
knowledge we impart to the next generation willing to carry its burden. In this age of
technology, even more people can learn and develop methods based on their
understandings allowing our transition to development to increase its speed,
significantly.
The topic at hand is interesting. It puts me in awe how a single discovery could
become the foundation of so much more. However, I cannot help but speculate why the
father and son duo decided to shine an X-rays towards an innocent crystal. There was a
time in my life where I asked, “Why do we visualize specific diagrams in the field of
Science the way we do?” and I think I have found a starting piece of my very own
puzzle. I questioned why we draw what we cannot see through the naked eye in a
specific manner, like the diagrams of compounds and molecules. I knew about the
diagram of a DNA but not the reason how it came to be what it is now. Maybe I lacked
the courage to inquire or perhaps, I had lingering uncertainty towards the credibility of
the answers that I will obtain, that I do not know for sure. It’s funny how we believe what
the general public is told without any further inquiry on the reasons for such information.
We easily believe and digest the information fed to us by others without the concept of
questioning why. Is it because it became a norm for ordinary people to believe in the
“gifted”? Is that why we, humans, are so gullible? How great must scientists’ minds be
for them to ponder on everything they perceive?
If we extend the effort, we will see that X-ray Diffraction is applied to many areas
of learning. This concept is something worthy to marvel. I met Constructive Interference
and Destructive Interference along with X-ray Diffraction. When the rays are aligned,
they become amplified creating a peak in the record and graph while the signal is
destroyed, otherwise. The playlist mentioned the Elastic Scattering that takes place in
the experiment, which refers to the electrons emitting energy in a form of a new X-ray,
which will then help in determining the atomic structure. Since crystallization allows the
molecules to be ordered and patterned, it helps in the diffraction. The Bragg’s Law
formulated by the Sir William and Lawrence Bragg is fascinating, considering that they
were facing something incredibly small. I love how the discovery of the past researchers
and scientists never go wasted in Science, even the erroneous once are appreciated in
this field as a basis for future discoveries.
The discussion on various possibilities regarding Mars was very informative and
even touching. It goes to show the eagerness of scientists to discover more about the
secrets of the world. It was mentioned that the exploration on Mars also searches for
signs of water, which can increase the possibility of life outside of earth. Space
exploration is difficult and if not done thoroughly can equate the collaboration into zero.
It also requires financial and physical stress to start even just a single project. Many
things go into consideration and as well as a number of tests. The idea of sending
people off to Mars still seems fantastical but I’m hoping to live on to a time where we
have developed a capacity for a project with a scale like so. The cost of the Curiosity
Rover is over the roof and that was just one of their many projects launched, not taking
into account the countless prototypes and failed products. Maybe this generation will
reach a time where we can hopefully, reach Mars, not with a robot but with a human.
Maybe then, we will discover a life form we never thought existed. Maybe then, we will
start discovering other planets. The Curiosity Rover, despite being just a single robot, is
a compact combination of groundbreaking development and discoveries with so many
things to consider. The initiative of incorporating the X-ray Diffraction for easier analysis
of the substances found in Mars seems like common sense but not everyone would be
able to think in such way. Diffraction images, for me, look amazing. The so-called
“Debye Rings” appear so interesting. It makes me think how amazing this world we live
in is, it is a shame we may be dooming it ourselves. Having the knowledge in X-ray
Crystallography is truly a breakthrough though it may not be a famous knowledge like
the DNA, it will always be remarkable and its beauty, breathtaking. The way that the
substance can be classified without seeing it nor touching it, but only through rings and
dots. Who would have imagined that a single discovery in the past, so long ago, could
be the very foundation of another yet-to-be discovery? There are some who’ve receive
a Nobel but not all deserve it however, the Braggs’ certainly contributed more than they
thought they would.
“Just don’t give up.” Science and discovery never come easy. There are many
struggles from proving to solving to losing interest. It’s sad to see passion die out
because it couldn’t burn anymore and simply turned to ember and ash without it
becoming fiery. The joy of discovery is the reward of the expended sweat and tears of
scientists and researchers alike. The videos in the playlist showed an explanation of the
struggle in analysing the structure of a substance in the past while now; it we can easily
visualize it through our own screens. The patterns from the diffraction showed were a
work of art and even the crystals used shone in pretty colors of different degrees. When
the video demonstrated the effect of the light to the diffraction when it is manipulated,
the twinkling glow of the visible little black dots looked so mesmerizing. One even
looked like that of an eye with specks of black around it. It made me feel as though I
was looking at the stars in the sky twinkle. It makes me look forward to seeing other
images of the diffraction patterns. I love how they feel random but are really not.
Crystals have always been pretty with how they seem under a light source but the
beauty of the diffraction pattern is also worth mentioning. They looked like flowers
blooming into perfection. The cited works of the videos, coupled with the 3D diagrams of
the atomic structures made the topic intimidating. There were also other diagrams
shown throughout the playlist consisting of very complex once that make it hard to
believe they exist so complex yet so small.
It’s difficult to believe that a single discovery could be a way to so many
successive discovery and that same discovery, could explain so much about the
behaviour of various objects.
The explanation of the process of preparing proteins to crystals
I look forward to meeting you again.