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| THE MATERIAL WORLD
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| | | Quentin Cooper reports on developments across the sciences. Each week scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects.
material.world@bbc.co.uk | | | | | LISTEN AGAIN 30 min | | | |
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PRESENTER |
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"For me science isn't a subject, it's a perspective. There are fascinating scientific aspects to everything from ancient history to the latest gadgets, outer space to interior decorating; and each week on The Material World we try to reflect the excitement, ideas, uncertainties, collisions and collaborations as science continues its never-ending voyage into the unknown".
Quentin Cooper |
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BIOGRAPHY
INTERVIEW |
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Helioseismology
If seismology is the study of earthquakes on our planet, what is helioseismology? It is the study of “sunquakes”, the sound waves that propagate through the Sun’s interior and appear at its visible surface.
In the same way as terrestrial seismology, astronomers are now able to measure millions of sound waves that propagate throughout the Sun, causing it to vibrate or ring like a bell. This technique is known as helioseismology. By observing the properties of these waves, scientists can measure the internal structure and sub-surface "weather" of this otherwise inaccessible physical laboratory. Worldwide networks of ground-based telescopes (one of which is based at the University of Birmingham) conduct a detailed study of solar internal structure and dynamics by obtaining nearly continuous observations of the Sun’s five-minute pulsations. Other observations are made with the ESA-NASA SOHO spacecraft.
Quentin speaks to Dr Yvonne Elsworth, head of Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network (BiSON) at Birmingham University and to Dr Guenter Houdek from the helioseismology group at Cambridge University.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
On Monday 21st April 2003 the Queen’s Awards were announced. This year the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation 2003) was given to Oxford Instruments for their pioneering technology behind the largest superconducting magnet in the world, which allows scientists to see molecules in much greater detail than ever before. The magnet is called Discovery 900MHz NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) superconducting magnet; it is the height of a double decker bus and weights the same as an elephant. It generates fields 400,000 times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field. NMR is a valuable tool for examination of the structure of molecules, such as proteins and DNA and is particularly important in the investigation of biological mechanisms for drug discovery research. The new magnet has a much higher sensitivity and resolution, which means that it allows much more detailed investigation than before. Also in the discussion we will be finding out more about NMR technology and what current research is being done.
Quentin speaks to Alan Street, technical director of Oxford Instruments Superconductivity. | | |
RELATED LINKS
Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network (BiSON)
Helioseismology - Introduction
Helio and Asteroseismology
Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG)
Cambridge University Helioseismology Group
The Basics of NMR
MRC Biomedical NMR Centre
Oxford Instruments
BBCi Science
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