• Question: what do you mean when you say that you stick your head between atoms?

    Asked by anon-197727 to Dan on 1 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Dan Porter

      Dan Porter answered on 1 Mar 2019:

      Hi there,
      What I mean is that I study materials at the atomic level, using x-ray and neutron scattering techniques to “see” tiny variations in the electronic and atomic structure.

      It turns out that these tiny variations can have a huge effect on the properties of materials – how strong are they?, do they conduct electricity?, are they magnetic?

      Looking at matter at the atomic level can often be a bit abstract, but remember – it’s the arrangement of atoms and interactions between them that controls all of chemistry, and therefore all biology and life as we know it! 😉

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