Robot Claw

When x-rays ‘shine’ through a crystal and are ‘photographed’ on the other side they leave a pattern which contains information on the crystal structure not dissimilar to how a shadow contains information on what exactly it was that blocked the light.

However, for various reasons, deciphering the crystal structure from the x-ray pattern is a difficult task (although made easier in recent years as computing power increases) that requires a great deal of physics and mathematics to solve.

One tool in the solution is a mathematical formula called the Patterson Function. At 11am this coming Tuesday – Halloween in America – I will be giving/taking my oral exam and my topic is “Patterson Methods and Crystal Structure Determination”. I will present a 45 minute talk on the Patterson Function and it’s various uses in crystallography, and will be quizzed on the topic by a comittee of three faculty members. I’m not particularly concerned – I have spent about 2 months preparing – but since some of the mathematics is tricky I hope certain questions may not be asked!

Kristin is in California right now, living it up in a beachside resort!

And here are some photos she sent from her cellphone:

Her room is costing her company $385 (plus tax) per night. She says it’s sunny and warm out there. The photos are shots of her room or from the patio outside. Obviously the view is quite nice!

Me I’m freezing and lonely, and spent almost fifteen hours playing Valkyrie Profile 2 yesterday (although I managed to complete about 70% of the mega-hard optional Seraphic Gate dungeon in that time)…