Resonance

The University of ’s Chemistry News Team Issue 5 | October 2016 Resonance

The ’s Chemistry News Team Editor ResonanceResonance is a biannual newsletter produced by chemistry Zoe Smallwood students at the University of Sheffield. It aims to provide Design insights into unheard stories from the Department and Stella Kritikou to engage you with issues in the wider scientific world.

Contributing Authors Dr. Tom Anderson Juliette Craggs Beth Crowston Editorial Phil Docherty Dan Jenkinson Maria Kariousou Amelia Newman Hello and welcome to Issue 5 of Resonance News! For those of Aylin Ozkan you coming back into your next year of study, welcome back- for Dr. Peter Portius those of you who are here in the department for the first time, Zoe Smallwood welcome to Sheffield and to the Department. We hope your time Matthew Watson here will be everything you hope it to be- I love Sheffield Kayleigh Wilkinson and I’m sure you will too! Check out page 3 for our top tips and Jamie Wright advice on getting settled in and making the most of everything the city has to offer. Copy Editors Beth Crowston Samuel Hogg Our famous alumni are a theme of this issue. We sadly noted the Stella Kritikou passing of one of our most famous alumni, Sir Harry Kroto, in May, Zoe Smallwood and we have a tribute to his life and work on page 15. With the 2016 Dr. Anthony J. H. M. Meijer Olympic and Paralympic Games having recently drawn to a close, Prof. Mike Ward we chat to another famous alumnus, Paralympian David Wetherill. It has also been 25 years since Helen Sharman, another graduate of the Email department, became the first British person in [email protected] space- Resonance spoke to her to discuss her adventures, which can be found on page 5. Facebook Resonance News Finally, this issue marks my last one as Editor. I’ve had a fantastic time and really enjoyed working with a great Printers collection of people, on a huge variety of articles- interviewing an Print and Design Solutions astronaut was a definite highlight for me! I hope that you enjoy the Bolsover Street issue, and get in touch if you would like to get involved with Sheffield Resonance. S3 7NA

Zoe Smallwood, Editor

1 Table of Contents

Welcome to the Department...... Page 3

The Periodic Table is Complete...... Page 4

Elemental Factfile: Molybdenum...... Page 4

From Sheffield to Space!...... Pages 5- 6

Flashes & Bangs!...... Page 7

Volcanic Chemistry...... Page 8

Nanjing Joint Degree...... Pages 9-10

Winter is Coming...... P age 11

Flavour...... P age 12

Knowing your Coffee...... Page 13

Scientifically Sublime Sponges...... Page 14

In Memoriam: Prof. Sir Harry Kroto...... Pages 15-16

Sleeping Stem Cells...... Page 17

At Any Cost?...... Page 18

Surgical Serums...... Page 18

Pushing the Limits...... Page 19

Dave Wetherill Goes for Gold...... Page 20

News from the Department ...... Page 21

2 Welcome to the Department! Top tips for yourBy Kayleighfirst Wilkinson weeks of university Welcome to the Chemistry Department, and welcome to the University of Sheffield! Fresher’s week is an exciting time and the buzz about campus is felt by everyone as a sea of new faces from all over the country and world come together. There is a lot to take in as you discover what the university and the city have to offer. This can be a bit overwhelming at first, so we would like to give you some helpful information and tips for starting your university life here at Sheffield.

There will be a whirlwind of information as you get into the swing of your timetable, friendship groups, tutorials and new surroundings. Get a diary and set reminders for the first few weeks. Extracurricular Course Tips • A cheap way of getting your coffee fix every morning • Use your notebook app to jot down anything that you is to take a thermos flask with instant coffee from home may need to refer to later, like your registration number and use the hot water available in the union shop. This is and what room your tutor group meets in. also great for noodle lunches or tea. • Many people find their first experience of labs the • Valley Centertainment has a cinema, restaurants and most daunting part. The first few weeks will be OK for bowling alley and it is only a 25 minute journey on the a lot of you, but others (myself included) may find it yellow tram route from the university stop towards a little more stressful- but it’s OK, you’re learning and Meadowhall building on practical skills. Take a deep breath, stand back and talk it through with someone; keep calm and keep safe. • Stock up on cold and flu remedies early, as no one is safe from the dreaded Fresher’s Flu! • Get to know the PhD students in labs. They are friendly, approachable, and passionate about their The Student Union is in partnership with City Taxis. • research- ask them questions! They have been there, If you find yourself with no way of getting home from done that, or know someone who was in a similar a night out, the Safe Taxi Scheme will take you home in situation. They are an invaluable source of help in all exchange for your Ucard as payment, on the condition aspects of university life. that you pay the fare at the Students’ Union to get your Ucard back. • There is a computer room on G floor. It’s not a secret- but having only found out about it in the second Go and explore the Peak District. Travel just 5 • semester, it turned out to be extremely handy when the miles out of the city centre to be in beautiful rolling IC is busy over the exam periods. countryside, picture-perfect fields with dry-stone walls, idyllic villages, and caves to explore, it is a rambler’s delight. Plus you can get a single to Fox House for £1 • ChemSoc holds a book sale in the first few weeks with your UCard! of the semester, so try and hold off on that online purchase and you could grab a bargain. Enjoy your time here in • Finally, remember that if you need help or advice Sheffield- your education, on money, exams, housing or anything else, then the Student Union is the one-stop shop for information and experiences and friendships guidance. Your personal tutor is also a friendly face in will last a lifetime! the department who you can go to if you are struggling. 3 * The Periodic* Table is Complete

at least as far as we know! By Maria Kariousou

The 7th row of the periodic table is now complete with the discovery of the super heavy elements 113, www.compoundchem.com 115, 117 and 118. These discoveries 2016 Interest © Compound had been made at Nuclear Physics Accelerator laboratories in Russia For example, ‘mercury’ and named after the state of Tennessee, (Dubna) and Japan (RIKEN) as ‘titanium’ got their names from where Oak Ridge National well as in the Oak Ridge National Greek mythology, ‘americium’ is Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Laboratory (USA), between 2004 under the category of places and and the University of Tennessee at and 2012. But how are those super ‘tungsten’ translates to ‘heavy University of Tennessee at Knoxville heavy elements created? stone’, so it falls under the category are situated. This is the second US Superheavy elements are made by of properties. IUPAC confirmed state to be honoured in the periodic smashing two elements together, the existence of elements 113, table. The first was California, in the hope that they will stick 115, 117 and 118 in January 2016, referenced by californium (element and produce a larger element; this their names were announced in 98). The last element on the list is requires the appropriate speed. To June of the same year. Element 118 oganesson (Og), honouring achieve this, a particle accelerator 113, nihonium, was named after Professor Yuri Oganessian for is used; however the issue with this the nation of Japan—Nihon his pioneering contributions in means "Land of the Rising Sun" the synthesis of these superheavy process is that very few impacts 2 have the right speed and orientation in Japanese. Nihonium (Nh) was elements. Concluding, all four to fuse two elements to give a synthesized in Japan. Researchers superheavy elements exist only in larger one. Another problem with did not identify the element research laboratories, where once these heavy elements is that they directly since it is very unstable. created they only survive for a few are unstable, and fall apart quickly. So they identified it through its moments. Oganesson, the heaviest Because they do not exist for long, decay products instead. Elements element created, has a half-life 115 and 117 are now named of 890 microseconds (1 million not much about them can be 3 known.1 moscovium (Mc) and tennessine microseconds = one second). The element names can be sorted (Ts), respectively. Moscovium takes its name from the capital of Russia, 1. http://bit.ly/1OOdRpk into a list of categories such as 2. http://bit.ly/1U7tJTv mythology, properties, places, Moscow since it was synthesized by 3. http://theatln.tc/1UDtcWg people and outer space. Russian scientists. Tennessine is Elemental Factfile: MolybdeBy Phil Docherty num According to the departmental staff because molybdenum is very useful these are the nitrogenase enzymes, pages, Professor Mark Winter for making high strength alloys which contain molybdenum in the “believes firmly that molybdenum and superalloys when combined active site, and are found in bacteria is the best element on the periodic with steel. This accounts for 80% that live in the roots of certain table.” A strong statement perhaps, of molybdenum production. In plants. These are responsible for the but with a little research it is quite an addition to this, molybdenum-99 reduction of nitrogen to ammonia, understandable one. The name, is used as the precursor to form using energy from the hydrolysis of Molybdenum, comes from the technetium-99, the most commonly ATP. This converts nitrogen in the Neo-Latin word molybdaenum, used radioisotope, which acts as atmosphere to a form that humans, meaning lead, quite simply a radioactive tracer within the and other living organisms can because people thought that body. However, it is the biological digest, allowing it to be used for molybdenum ores were actually applications of molybdenum that are many vital functions within the body. lead ores. Elemental molybdenum most astounding, as it is essential to This biological process is done at a is not naturally occurring on life; most organisms have various much greater efficiency than our own Earth, however it can be produced important enzymes that contain artificial Haber-Bosch process, which artificially – this is required molybdenum. The most important of requires quite extreme conditions. 4 From Sheffield Helen Sharman grew up in Sheffield and completed her degree she was selected to train as an astronaut for . space station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. Zoe Smallwood

What first got you interested in What did you get up to after you So how did you decide to become chemistry? graduated? an astronaut?

I didn’t really know what I I went to work for the General It was just an amazing opportunity. wanted to do in life- I knew I loved Electric Company in London, I knew that as soon as I heard it science, but I also loved languages looking at the phosphor coatings of that it was a job of a lifetime just and music, so I was struggling cathode ray tubes. I really enjoyed to do the training. Not only was a bit to decide. I decided in the my time there, and after I had I learning about the science of end science was going to keep my been there for about a year or so, the experiments we were going options open for a longer period. the managing director came to to do and the technology of the To me, chemistry was a nice middle me and suggested I should start a spacecraft, but I was also going to science, something that interested PhD. So I started a part-time PhD be living in Star City near Moscow, me and yet was going to give me as at Birkbeck College, University of learning to speak Russian and many opportunities as I could think London around 1985, looking at the doing physical training. I thought, of later on. luminescence of rare earth ions, in wow! Where else can you do all particular europium and terbium. that as part of one job? I struggled What are your fondest memories to decide between languages or of your time in Sheffield? science when I went to do A-Levels, so this was my dream job where I I remember my first ever cheese could combine everything together. and wine party- that was an amazing event, we thought it was Was any part of your degree useful very glamorous. I also remember for your selection and during your a particular experiment in the 2nd training? year which left us smelling horribly of mouse urine and people avoiding I think they wanted somebody who us on the buses going home, had got some science, engineering thinking that we hadn’t washed for or medical background, it didn’t ages! really matter what degree you got. The person who I did my training Did you get the chance do any with, who became my backup in research during your degree? Sharman © Helen the end, got his degree in aero After a couple of years, I applied for engineering whilst he was with In our final year we did 2 research a job at Mars confectionary. I was a the army. He had got aeronautical projects- I chose physical and research technologist, working first experience, so when it came to inorganic for my research projects of all on ice cream, then eventually learning about orbital mechanics and loved them both. My physical in the chocolate department. I and ballistics and flight and so on project was making organic had been at Mars for a couple of he could help me, and when it came molecules and recording their NMR years, when I had the opportunity to learning about the experimental spectra, whilst the inorganic project to go and be an astronaut, so I left stuff in space and microgravity and was looking at ruthenium carbonyl Mars confectionary and also never so on I could help him. compounds. completed my PhD.

5 to Space! in Chemistry in this department. After responding to a radio advert, In 1991, she became the first Briton in space when she travelled to the spoke to her about her time in Sheffield, in space, and her current work.

What experiments did you carry stretch out after a very cramped out in space? existence for a couple of days. It was a fabulous feeling! I did some work on some new materials, in particular ceramics. You are operations manager at I had to put a series of different . Would ceramic films outside the space you like to tell us a bit about your station and we were monitoring current role?

the effects of radiation and the © Thomas Angus, Imperial College vacuum of space on them. They I make sure that the department were looking at future space station continues to do what it needs Do you have any advice to current exteriors and some of them might to do. I enable everybody else chemistry students at Sheffield? also be used for high temperature in the department to carry out superconductors. The other bit was their research and teaching, for There’s going to be so many more growing some protein crystals- I the students to get the university opportunities open than they can grew luciferase. You don’t really experience they deserve. So it’s even imagine at this moment- operate as a scientist in space, a combination of budgetry and always be open to that. It’s lovely to we are technicians- we carry out people management, and I work have an aim in mind, but if we close the jobs that the scientists have very closely with the head of ourselves off to new opportunities designed and then we bring the department. that we might not previously have results back for the scientists to thought of, we may be denying analyse and make the conclusions. I’m loving it- I’ve only been here a ourselves an absolutely amazing We talk about being scientists in few months, so there’s still things chance. space but we’re not, if we’re honest- cropping up that surprise me, but the scientists stay on the ground. being in an academic environment I never imagined I could go into like this is great. To be around space whilst I was at university- I What was your favourite moment people who are sparky, making thought, “I shall use my degree in about being in space? all sorts of changes to enable the industry”. It was great, I enjoyed it students to have a better education, and I probably would have enjoyed I think the entry to the Mir space to enable a better research it for the rest of my life, but if station was the best bit. After 2 environment and are excited by I hadn’t been open to that new days of orbiting the earth, we were that research is a very interesting opportunity then I wouldn’t have really looking forward to getting environment to be in. had an amazing experience in space to the space station. The docking either. Opportunities come our way wasn’t automatic in the end, so we only once and you can spend a long worked really hard together as a “Opportunities come time regretting if you don’t try. team. Then, the 3 of us that were our way only once in the spacecraft joined onto the Would you go back to space if you space station and met the 2 who and you can spend a got the opportunity? were already there- that wonderful feeling of camaraderie, of being able long time regretting Oh, definitely! Every astronaut to float into these long modules and if you don’t try.” would go back into space if they could!

We would like to thank Helen for taking the time to speak to us and answer our questions. 6 Flashes & Bangs! The science (and art) behind fireworks By Zoe Smallwood

Colourants are often salts of heavy compositions for pyrotechnics. By the time you are reading metal elements. The excitation and Nitrogen-rich compounds this article, Bonfire Night is fast subsequent relaxation of the heavy require less oxygen for complete approaching, and the skies will metal electrons emits coloured light. combustion, producing less once again be lit up with flashes of For example, green light can be smoke. Another bonus is that the colour and the night peppered with generated by using barium nitrate, main product of decomposition

bangs and whistles. First developed Ba(NO3)2, whilst strontium nitrate, is non-toxic, environmentally-

in ancient China, modern displays Sr(NO3)2, emits red light. Using inert N2 gas. As a result, nitrogen- comprise different types, sizes iron metal creates the ‘sparkles’ that rich compounds, such as and amounts of fireworks, each can be seen in some fireworks.2,3 hydrazinebistetrazolate or HBT designed to create a different effect. Confining the pyrotechnic mixture (Figure 1) are being investigated Although most people associate the in a tube results in a loud explosion as replacement propellants for words ‘fireworks’ and ‘pyrotechnics’ when the mixture decomposes. pyrotechnic mixtures.4 very closely, a pyrotechnic is anything that creates an effect- this Despite creating some amazing can include the generation of heat effects, fireworks are not problem- and smoke, as well as the fireworks free. Everyone who has been to a we are all familiar with. The word large fireworks display will have Figure 1: Structure of HBT ‘pyrotechnic’ stems from the Greek seen the huge amount of smoke However, it’s not just in propellants for ‘fire’ and ‘art’- therefore, a generated. This is due to incomplete that nitrogen-rich compounds are pyrotechnican is someone who is combustion of the pyrotechnic of interest- a nitrogen-rich boron trained in the art of handling fire.1 formulation, leaving unburnt compound, which emits green light carbon in the air as soot. External when ignited, has shown promise as A firework is made up of several oxidisers such as ammonium a replacement for barium nitrate as 5 different parts, each of which play a perchlorate, NH4[ClO4], are often a colourant. different role. Before a firework can included to increase the amount ‘go off’, it must first be launched of oxygen available for the other The chemistry and formulation of into the sky, high enough to be components to use. Although fireworks is extremely complex; away from the ground and be seen this reduces the amount of smoke each is designed to achieve a certain by observers. This is achieved by generated, many of the compounds height, size and cause certain effects. a propellant such as gunpowder; used as oxidisers are harmful for the Despite being so complex, all of this which generates gas upon environment and to humans. The work goes out with a bang, literally, decomposition. This creates thrust, heavy metals used in colorants can in just a few seconds! which pushes the firework upwards also be problematic for health and before the effects begin. environmental reasons.3 1. http://bit.ly/2deRrj9 2. http://bit.ly/2d0LC5R Each firework is designed around For these reasons, research is 3. G. Steinhauser, T. M. Klapötke, J. Chem. Ed., being conducted worldwide to 2010, 87, 150. the effects that it is intended to 4. G. Steinhauser and T. M. Klapötke, Angew. produce, so compositions of discover and investigate more Chem. Int. Ed., 2008, 47, 3330. 5. T. M. Klapötke, M. Rusan and V. Sproll, Z. pyrotechnic mixtures vary hugely! environmentally-friendly Anorg. Allg. Chem., 2014, 640, 1892–1899.

7 VolcanicBy Maria Chemistry Kariousou Most people associate volcanoes with destruction and something deadly. But what is behind those eruptions and what is happening with lava on the inside?

The word ‘volcano’ comes from the little island of Vulcano in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. In Roman mythology, Vulcan, the god of fire (also known as Hephaistos in the Greek mythology), was said to have made tools and weapons http://bit.ly/2cXdyJ5 © Geology.sdsu.edu, for the other gods in his workshop at Olympus. Volcanoes are formed Because oxygen and silicon are (i.e., Si-O bonds begin to form when magma from within the by far the two most abundant well above the crystallization Earth’s upper mantle works its way elements in magma, it is convenient temperature of magma). to the surface.1 Magma is molten to describe the different magma rock underground, but when this types in terms of their silica content These floating radicals contain molten rock reaches the surface it (SiO2). SiO4 ; as the magma cools, more is called lava. Lava is made up of and more bonds are created, crystals, volcanic glass, and bubbles. A magma’s resistance to flow is a which eventually leads to the Chemically, lava includes silicon, function of its “internal friction”, development of crystals. However, oxygen, aluminium, iron and derived from the generation of while still in the liquid state, the magnesium. chemical bonds within the liquid. bonding of tetrahedra results in Oxygen is the only anion in the the polymerization of the liquid, A magma’s viscosity is largely elements found in magma and which increases the “internal controlled by its temperature, silicon is the most abundant friction” of the magma, so that it composition, and gas content. cation. Thus, the Si-O bond is the more readily resists flow. Magmas Viscosity is defined as the ability of single most important factor in that have a high silica content will a substance to resist flow. In a sense, determining the degree of magma’s therefore exhibit greater degrees of viscosity is the inverse of fluidity. viscosity. These two elements bond polymerization, and have higher Also, the higher the temperature, together to form the so-called viscosities, than those with low- the more fluid a substance becomes, “floating radicals” in the magma, silica contents.2 thus lowering its viscosity. while it is still in its liquid state 1. Crystalinks Online, http://bit.ly/2dgdFTQ 2. http://bit.ly/2cqJh3b

8 Nanjing JointBy Jamie Wright Degree

The lab In their first year, the students do some experiments designed by Dr. Julie Hyde. In years 2 and 3, they do experiments taken directly from the level 1 and 2 practical courses our undergraduates take here. So, Smallwood Zoe © the experiments are similar, how The students different could the lab’ really be? The students themselves were © Mike Ward very enthusiastic, and English The Chemistry Department has communication was not the issue offered a joint “3+1” degree with Although the lab’ isn’t as well I thought it would be. While most Nanjing Tech University in China equipped as in Sheffield, thanks to were quite shy at first, I found that since 2011.1 This course gives the technician, Shirley (a chemist over the course of three months we Chinese students the chance to with an industrial background developed a great working rapport. study in Nanjing for three years, and the patience of a saint) the I even managed to get people to with teaching from Sheffield staff, experiments have been carried over volunteer answers in class (no, before joining our third-year from the UK very well. Over the really)! Giving the students the undergraduate students in Sheffield three years I’ve been to Nanjing, chance to practise their English as in their final year. In 2016, our Shirley has gone from speaking much as possible is very important. second intake of Nanjing students only a few sentences of English to Incidentally, this has also been very all graduated successfully. being able to have full conversations useful in learning about some great about non-work topics with me, restaurants in Nanjing. As the class The content students cover in without a translator. Her efforts sizes have increased over the last Nanjing is roughly equivalent to learn English (self-taught and few years, it has admittedly become to foundation year up to level 2 through her daughter, currently in harder to remember everyone’s chemistry here in Sheffield. Lecture high school) have put my attempts name. The convention of Chinese courses in Nanjing are given by our at Mandarin to shame. students adopting English monikers own academics, chiefly by Profs has helped in the past (albeit with Mike Ward and Mark Winter as well a few interesting choices…), but as as Dr. David M. Williams and Dr. Working in the Nanjing lab’ we become increasingly familiar Lance J. Twyman. The lab’ course definitely gives you an appreciation with Chinese language and culture is delivered primarily by Dr. Julie for expensive things we take for this isn’t something all students Hyde.2 Since 2014, when we first granted: vacuum lines and inert choose to do, and rightly so. Better had three full cohorts of students gas plumbed into fume cupboards; start practising that pronunciation. out in Nanjing to teach, she has double-barrelled Schlenk lines; also been helped by some of our multiple IR spectrometers in each In general, the theoretical graduate teaching assistants or undergraduate lab’! However, the knowledge of the students was GTAs. This is where I came in – in lab’ has always been equipped with excellent (and this helped when 2014 I was one of the first GTAs everything we need to carry out we were trying to explain new to help teach out in Nanjing, and the course. Other members of the concepts in their second language). my involvement has continued. In Chinese staff have helped us in The biggest challenge was teaching 2016 I worked with Dr. Julie Hyde the lab’, and several of these have scientific writing to the students, for three months out in Nanjing, to come to conduct research here in which is hard enough for our home deliver the lab’ course on the largest Sheffield as part of the ongoing students! Writing oddities such scale yet. It feels fitting that now, links between Sheffield and Nanjing as the experimental format, Latin as we prepare to receive our largest Tech. Over the past three years, the phrases and finer points like how cohort of Nanjing students yet, to lab’ course has become a well-oiled abstracts differ from conclusions look back on the course so far and machine, with a structure reflecting were particularly tough to explain. the journey our Nanjing students Sheffield’s but with unique features However, the students by and large take to get here. of its own. rose to the occasion.

9 China in general I can only imagine, experiencing I’m not the only one who had this Nothing quite prepared me for all these things in our country, how excellent opportunity. To date, how different China is from the intimidating coming to the UK seven of our Graduate Teaching UK. Nanjing is a city of over eight for a whole year must be for our Assistants (GTA’s) have been to million (comparable to London), students. I want to invite people to Nanjing to help teach the lab’ and yet it is not even the largest stop and chat to them, whenever course. Here’s what some of them city in Jiangsu province. As with they get the chance. If we can had to say: all big cities, there was plenty of extend to them even a fraction of background noise, and even in the the courtesy we have been offered in beautiful XuanWu lake park, there Nanjing, they will be just fine. Beth Crowston: I was both excited were crowds at every time of day. and a little nervous when I found Being in a city where you can’t even The future out that I’d been selected to teach read the street signs (never mind The joint degree continues, with its over in Nanjing, but I’m so glad speak to people in any meaningful sixth intake of students in 2016-17. that I took up such an amazing way) was pretty intimidating. As well as chemistry, there are now opportunity. Everyone I met was Thankfully the people were very Sheffield-Nanjing Tech joint degrees so friendly and made my time welcoming, particularly at tourist in physics, financial mathematics over there very enjoyable. The lab attractions (of which Nanjing has and engineering (though chemistry setting was very different to the many). Over the past three years has run for the longest). The format one here in Sheffield and I had to the ‘language barrier’ has shrunk of the lab’ course continues to adapt my teaching accordingly, significantly; it was easy to hold evolve and adapt to the challenges however, it made me appreciate conversations in English while we have faced so far, and I’m how spoilt we are here. I would in China, particularly with the confident of future success. Finally, definitely recommend that the other younger people. This again put our welcome to our new students from GTAs take up the chance to go to efforts at Mandarin to shame. The Nanjing Tech – I hope that your Nanjing, as it is a once-in-a-lifetime food has been a constant source of time in Sheffield is as enjoyable as experience, but don’t forget to take discussion among the people who mine was in Nanjing. your own teabags! came to Nanjing. I’d like to think I’ve been quite brave, but some dishes were maybe a little too exotic Tom Roseveare: The biggest (not limited to: pig’s tail; ‘drunken’ challenge I found was adjusting to prawns; cow’s throat and preserved the Nanjing Teaching Lab, there are duck eggs). so many pieces of equipment and resources that you take for granted when teaching in Sheffield. Needless © Mike Ward to say despite the slightly hindered conditions, with help from the technicians, the students were able to record reliable and reproducible data.

Zoe Smallwood: Being able to travel to Nanjing and assist in the teaching and demonstrating for the programme was a fantastic opportunity, I’m really glad I was able to take part. I think it has helped improve my teaching skills, especially having the opportunity to teach and provide feedback in

© Mike Ward a group setting outside of the lab, From left to right: Catherine (graduate of the joint chemistry programme), Coco (teaching assistant), which was something that I hadn’t Shirley (teaching lab technician), George (graduate of the joint chemistry programme), Dr. Julie Hyde, Zoe (GTA) and Jamie (GTA). The photo was taken in the teaching labs at NJTech. had much experience of before.

Dr. Julie Hyde has also written an article on the Nanjing Tech-Sheffield collaboration, that can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/2cIHszC 10 Winter is Coming By Dan Jenkinson With the tell tale signs of autumn becoming apparent, it’s fair to say that winter is well on its way! This includes the spectacular change in colour in the leaves of deciduous trees from the spring and summer shades of greens to the autumnal hues of yellow, orange and red. But what are the chemicals behind these changes? Summer greens

The chemical that gives leaves their green colour during the warmer months is chlorophyll. It appears green, because it Chlorophyll A absorbs light in the red and blue sections of the visible spectrum, allowing green light to pass through or be scattered. Plants require warmth and sunlight to produce it. In autumn, the amount of chlorophyll plants are able to produce decreases and existing chlorophyll is broken down and harvested for an additional source of energy.

Oranges and yellows

As chlorophyll is broken down the other chemical components of the plant’s leaves remain. Xanthophylls and carotenoids are responsible for Lutein the yellow and orange colours in leaves. These compounds appear this way due to their absorbing in the blue and green regions of the visible spectrum. Two of the more prominent xanthophylls are lutein and β-carotene which are carotenoids. They are responsible for the yellow colour in egg yolks and β-Carotene the orange colour of carrots respectively. These compounds also start to break down along with chlorophyll, but this happens much more slowly.

Dead red

As chlorophyll, xanthophylls and carotenoids are broken down, the synthesis of anthocyanins is kick-started by the increased concentration of sugar in the leaves. Their exact role in the leaf is unclear, but it has been theorised that they protect the leaves from excess light absorption, prolonging Anthocyanins the time before they fall. Anthocyanins appear red because they absorb all light from the ultraviolet end of the spectrum up to the orange region of the visible spectrum.

11 © http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/

In March we were joined by Dr. Jane ParkerFlavour for a Chemsoc lecture on “Flavour”. Dr. Parker is the manager of ‘The Flavour Centre’ at the University of Reading. She specialises in sensory and chemical characterisation and the mechanisms by which odour compounds form during cooking. Most people naturally associate the word flavour with taste, however as we learned, it is much more than that. By Amelia Newman Dr. Parker tells us “Flavour is the Next time you have a juicy sweet try multisensory experience of flavour multisensory experience created holding your nose while you first perception. He created a blood by our brain from all the sensory eat it. On releasing your nose, the orange flavoured red jelly, and a inputs it receives during eating flavour of the sweet is significantly beetroot flavoured red jelly. and drinking.” Many flavours like enhanced! This aroma reaches coconut, olives or onions are not the nose via “retronasal olfaction” When we eat, our brain makes detected by receptors on the tongue where the volatile aromatic connections and assumptions of but instead depend on our other compounds drift backward up the flavour based on the appearance of sensory inputs to be detected. nasal passage. our food, causing confusion when our sense perceptions of the food The first component of flavour is This sequence of molecules is like do not link up. By creating these taste. There are five main tastes: a chord on a piano; by changing jellies, Blumenthal managed to sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. one note, the whole nuance can create a wholly confusing flavour Everyone can immediately associate change. Some strange aromas experience for his guests. a flavour with the first four. have compounds in common in However, the last is less commonly their “chords”. Ever been confused Chemesthesis sensations arise known. Umami is a Japanese word between popcorn, peardrops or when compounds activate receptors for “pleasant savoury taste”. This blue cheese? They all have diacetyl associated with physical pain and umani is found in meat, cheese, in common! Between your coffee thermal perception and is yet and tomatoes, and achieved from a and crisps? The methional will be another component of flavour. balanced combination of glutamate responsible! Next time you go to During the flavour perception of and nucleotide-rich foods. These open a can of sweetcorn, smell the menthol, a cooling sensation is felt; two components are synergic and can straight afterwards. Sweetcorn, with ginger and black pepper, an achieve the delicious umami hit. An raspberries, or the ocean? Dimethyl irritating sensation, and anyone example is when Worcester sauce sulfide is a key component in the who has eaten Sichuan peppers will is added to spaghetti Bolognese; aroma of all three! Produced by be familiar with the overwhelming the flavour is compounded due to bugs on algae near the ocean, the numbing of the lips that follows. the fish component of the sauce latter is also a key top note added to combining with the tomato in the make raspberry flavourings smell Understanding the mechanisms of Bolognese! more genuine. flavour as an experience involving all of our sensory inputs is a field Another key component is aroma. True, these foods aren’t commonly investigated by chefs, scientists Researchers estimate up to 90% of mistaken for one another, but when and commercial manufacturers the what we perceive as taste actually smelt with no other sensory input, world over. Chemsoc would like comes from smell.1 Aroma is given things get confusing! This is also to thank Dr. Parker for such an by a much more complex pattern due to another key component of interesting and interactive lecture! of molecules, which involve more flavour- appearance. Chef Heston 1. J. Walters, Heaven-scent diet, London Evening than one smell receptors; this way a Blumenthal worked with renowned Standard, 2004. wider range of smells is perceived. scientists to further investigate the C. Spence, Current Biology, 2013, 23, 365.

12 KnowingWith approximately 70 million Your cups of coffee Coffee being consumed in the UK each day, it is clear that we are hooked on this once-exotic drink as a nation.1 Coffee contains thousands of different compounds and in this article, Aylin Ozkan explores what gives coffee its bitter taste and how caffeine affects our bodies.

Why is Coffee So Bitter?

The distinctive, bitter taste in coffee is mostly caused However, the roasting of the coffee beans at high by chlorogenic acids (CGAs), which are phenolic temperatures sets off multiple chemical reactions and compounds. These compounds are produced by plants almost half of the CGAs degrade during this process. to combat environmental stress conditions. Some of the CGAs form chlorogenic acid lactones – a A typical green, unroasted coffee bean will have a source of bitterness in the light to medium roasted CGA content of up to 14%. CGAs are formed from the coffee. In darker roasts, such as ones used to make esterification of trans-cinnamic acid with quinic acids espresso, phenylindanes, which are the chemical (figure 1a).2 An example of a CGA found in a coffee breakdown products of chlorogenic acid lactones, cause plant is 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (figure 1b). an even harsher taste. A chemical reaction between proteins and sugars, named the Maillard browning reaction, responsible for flavouring many different types of food, also thought to be responsible for forming melanoidins – bitter-tasting antioxidant polymers which give coffee its distinctive bitter flavour.

Keeping Alert with Caffeine

Figure 1a. Adenosine is produced naturally and its levels are Trans-cinnamic acid (left) and quinic acid (right) monitored with receptors found in the brain. When it accumulates, it attaches to these receptors and activates them – stimulating signals telling the body to get some rest. Caffeine can attach to these adenosine receptors due to its molecular similarity. However, it doesn’t activate them like adenosine does - it merely blocks them. This means that nerve activity in your brain does Figure 1b. not slow down, keeping you more awake and energetic. 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid 1. http://ind.pn/1VAjycJ 2. http://bit.ly/2cyXBtE

13 Scientifically BySublime Beth Crowston Sponges There’s nothing better to brighten Once the fat-coated air bubbles Conversely, with the temperature a rainy afternoon than indulging have been formed, the beaten eggs set too high a peaked ‘volcano’ in a deliciously soft, freshly-baked are added to form a protective surface on the cake is observed. Victoria Sponge cake, accompanied layer around them. Upon heating, This is due to the outer portion of by a refreshing cup of hot tea. the protein lecithin in the egg the cake setting, before the inner Now that the nation’s favourite coagulates, essentially building portion has finished expanding. It baking show is back on, many of a rigid wall which prevents any is when the cake reaches 80 °C that us are inspired to a spot of baking bubble-bursting. it takes on its permanent shape. ourselves. Armed with the a The flour builds the structure of The egg proteins coagulate and the plethora of the latest time-saving the cake. The proteins glutenin gluten loses its elasticity, which gadgets, many a naïve baker is and gliadin draw together to make prevents further expansion. When a confidently throwing ingredients gluten in an extensive, elastic skewer is inserted into the cake and into a bowl, giving them a quick network allowing the batter to pulls out cleanly, your cake is done! mix around and bunging them in to expand when heated. Being too bake, only to be disappointed when excitable when folding the flour in The final stage of the baking they open the oven door to a burnt- forms too much gluten, however. process is the flavour-enhancing on-the-outside, but raw-on-the- This spoils the cake’s texture and browning reactions, which fill your inside mess. So what’s the secret to causes the crucial gas bubbles to kitchen with the sweet smell of producing the perfect showstopper? pop. Baking powder is the cake’s caramelisation. A reducing sugar And how can the crushing saviour here, however, as it helps such as glucose condenses with a disappointment of a ruined cake be to incorporate those all-important free amino group on an amino acid avoided? The simple answer lies in bubbles in to the batter. to give an unstable N-substituted the appreciation of the science of glycosylamine. From this point, a 1 baking. 3NaHCO3 + NaAl(SO)4 → complex mechanism of cyclisations, Al(OH)3 + 2Na2SO4 + 3CO2 dehydrations, retroaldolisations, The light and airy texture desired rearrangements, isomerisations and for a melt-in-the-mouth cake Baking powder is a blend of the further condensations takes place begins with the creaming process. dried acid sodium aluminium until brown melanoidins are finally As the mixture is beaten, air is sulphate with the alkali bicarbonate produced, giving your cake that carried along the rough surface of soda. Upon the addition of beautiful bronzed sheen.2 of the sugar crystals creating gas moisture, bubbles of carbon dioxide bubbles which are then encased in a are formed. However, being overly So what next? You’ve made the fine layer of fat to produce foam. At zealous with the baking powder can perfect sponge, but now you only this stage it is all too appealing as a cause too many gas bubbles which have a limited time in which to desperate baker to substitute caster merely float to the top and pop, enjoy it before it becomes hard sugar for granulated sugar when you leaving the cake sunken. and unappetising. This is due to find your cupboard bare. However, the crystals of starch found in the larger surface area of the smaller The baking process can be divided the flour. During baking they caster sugar crystals incorporates into three stages; expansion, setting become gelatinised as they take more air in to the batter, making for and browning. As the temperature up water, however, once released a fluffier cake overall. of the batter begins to rise, the from the oven they begin to slowly

For the more health conscious, the baking powder releases CO2 gas recrystallise as water is drawn out temptation to use low fat butter can which starts to expand the gluten of the gel. Higher sugar content can also cause efforts to be in vain. The network. Steam expands the air help to combat this, as sugar absorbs fat is necessary to coat flour protein pockets in the cake ever further; water from the atmosphere, but the and starch to avoid the formation however, vigilant temperature best remedy to avoid a hard cake of tough gluten, which can give control at this point is crucial to is to eat it fresh from the oven; the the cake a bread-like texture. The success. With the temperature set perfect excuse for indulging in that sugar works in tandem with the too low, the gas bubbles expand extra slice with your afternoon tea! fat to soften the flour proteins and to produce a heavy texture which tenderise the cake. causes the cake to sink.

1 , 2010, The Science of Cake, Available at: http://bit.ly/1SIO3qJ 2 S.I.F.S. Martins, W. M. F. Jongen, M. A. J. S. van Boekel, Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2000, 11, 364–373 14 In Memoriam

Prof.th Sir Harry Kroto,th FRS 7 October1939-30 April 2016 By Beth Crowston

It was announced with great his PhD, Harry moved to Ottawa, sadness on the 30th April that Canada to take up a two-year Professor Sir Harold (Harry) postdoctoral position at the Kroto, FRS had regrettably passed National Research Council, before away. Harry was one of the most moving on to Bell Laboratories in famous alumni from the Chemistry New Jersey for a further year. It Department and indeed from the was when he moved back to the UK University of Sheffield in general. in 1967 as a tutorial fellow at the Although born in Wisbech, University of Sussex, however, that Cambridgeshire to Edith and Heinz his research career was really kick- Krotoschiner in 1939, Harry was started. During the years 1970-80, raised in Bolton after the family Harry worked alongside John Nixon relocated at the end of the Second to produce the first compounds World War. He attended Bolton with carbon-phosphorus double School where he excelled not © .co.uk and triple bonds. This work only in chemistry, physics, and resulted in the establishment of the mathematics, but was also a gifted President of the Student Athletics new fields of phosphaalkene and artist and keen sportsman. On the Council (1963-64) and a member phosphaalkyne chemistry.3 advice of his sixth form chemistry of Folk Song Society, he also played teacher, Professor Harry Heaney tennis for the University first team A collaboration with Richard Curl, (now an emeritus Professor at for three years. Amongst his busy James Heath, Sean O’Brien, Yuan Loughborough University), Harry schedule he also found the time to Liu, and Robert Smalley from came to the University of Sheffield take care of the important matter of the University of Rice, Houston, in 1958 to study for his first-class marrying his university sweetheart, Texas in 1985 provided Harry with honours BSc degree in chemistry. Margaret Hunter. his most notable contribution to Having enjoyed his time at the the field of chemistry, however. university so much he stayed to The article in ‘Parts’ depicts Together they discovered a new complete a PhD in molecular Harry as a witty and charming allotrope of carbon known as a C60 spectroscopy between the years ‘very good bloke’; a view shared buckminsterfullerene (‘buckyball’); 1961-64, alongside Prof. Richard V. by all who knew him, both in a a symmetrical football-shaped array Dixon, FRS, now emeritus at Bristol professional and personal setting. of 60 carbon atoms made up of 12 University. The department’s own Prof. Charles pentagons and 20 hexagons.4 Stirling, FRS was a personal friend Alongside his academic of Harry’s and reiterates that ‘Not “His personal achievements at the university, only was [Harry] an extraordinarily Harry was also accomplished in imaginative chemist, but also a example of scientific many extracurricular activities. In gentle companionable aesthete’. rigour, enthusiasm and an article published in the student Prof. Patrick Fowler, FRS adds that magazine ‘Darts’ in 1964, Harry is “his personal example of scientific quirky humour will quoted as saying: “many students rigour, enthusiasm and quirky remain an inspiration apologise for their failure by humour will remain an inspiration saying University is there to give to all of us who had the good to all of us who had the a rounded view of life. A degree fortune to work with him, or simply good fortune to work is all important and in achieving to attend his spectacular lectures.”2 with him, or simply to it a normal person will pick up activities on the side”; a statement Harry’s time at the University was attend his spectacular he endorsed enthusiastically.1 Not only the start of what would go on only was he the art editor of the to be an illustrious career in the lectures.” student magazine ‘Arrows’, the sciences, however. After obtaining Prof. Patrick Fowler, FRS

1515 When discussing his discovery, Harry ‘consider[ed] [the] single NMR line confirming that all the carbon atoms in C60 are equivalent one of [his] group’s, and [his] personal, most satisfying contributions, if not the most satisfying’.5 © The University of Sheffield of University © The Royal © The of SocietyChemistry Indeed the satisfaction would not stop there for Harry. He went on to be elected a fellow of the Royal In 2009, this was supplemented Throughout Harry’s full and Society of Chemistry (RSC) in with a second science education prosperous life it can be seen that 1990; was appointed a Knight initiative, Geoset (Global his diligent attitude to his work Bachelor in the 1996 New Year Educational Outreach for Science, paid dividends, however, he will be Honours List for contributions to Engineering and Technology); remembered not only for his great chemistry and later that year shared an online collection of recorded contributions to science but also for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with teaching aids that are free to his affable disposition. his collaborators. Harry’s success download by all. did not go to his head, however, as his down-to-earth, jovial manner Harry’s involvement in the was still apparent in the Christmas dissemination of science to the “He would sit on pantomimes he wrote, directed and younger generation did not stop starred in for the department in there, however, as in 2014 he the floor with the Sussex. and his wife Margaret set up the students, talk to Innovative Use of Technology in Science Learning prize. This was them, and generally awarded to any school child from just inspire them.” around the world aged 11-18 who could produce the best five minute Dr. Julie Hyde STEM video. Harry’s face was not an unfamiliar one here in Sheffield either, as he devoted a portion of his time every summer to running The science community suffered a ‘buckyball’ workshop for primary a great loss when he passed away school children, known as Kroto but he will continue to inspire a Days. The department’s Dr. Julie new generation of scientists for Hyde notes that ‘Sir Harry was many more years to come, with committed to outreach for the his dedication to the field and the young and not only did he run these solid foundations he has built for workshops in the UK, they were outreach. He was, and still is a great delivered worldwide. He would sit inspiration to staff, students and the © bbc.co.uk on the floor with the students, talk wider community alike and will be to them, and generally just inspire deeply missed by all who had the Between the years 2002-04, Harry them.’2 This year, the annual Kroto good fortune to know and work was the President of the RSC, before Day was held in Harry’s memory. alongside him. moving to Florida State University to take up the role of Francis Eppes Professor of Chemistry in 2004. Whilst there Harry continued 1. Darts, Sheffield University Union of Students, no.241, 23rd June 1964, pg 3. with the outreach work he started 2. http://shef.ac.uk/chemistry/about/departmental_news/harry_kroto_obituary-1.573420 in 1995, having set up the Vega 3. M. J. Hopkinson, H. W. Kroto, J. F. Nixon and N. P. C. Simmons, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1976, 513-515 Science Trust, an educational 4. H. W. Kroto, J. R. Heath, S. C. O’Brien, R. F. Curl and R. E. Smalley, Nature, 1985, 318, 162-63 charity which produced high 5. Harry Kroto, 2016, Main Contributions, available at: http://www.kroto.info/main-contributions/ quality science films that streamed An autobiography for Harry can be found at http://bit.ly/1GTvQkO ; for free. an enjoyable read for all who admire Harry and his work.

16 © http://www.israel21c.org/

Sleeping Stem Cells By Zoe Smallwood

Work by Prof. Steve Armes and One of the biggest challenges facing The hydrogel is also thermally colleagues, recently published in the use of stem cells is their limited responsive, turning into a liquid ACS Central Science, has shown that timeframe of application, before upon cooling, which means that stem cells can effectively be ‘put the cells start to differentiate into the embryos can be readily isolated to sleep’ for up to two weeks using other cell types. In nature, some from the hydrogel as required. This hydrogels. In nature, stem cells are mammals such as kangaroos are hydrogel could be an improved way ‘pluripotent’- this means that they capable of undergoing a process to store stem cells for longer periods are capable of becoming any type called ‘embryonic diapause’. This of time. For the first time, the same of cell. For example, human stem is where animals choose to delay effect appears to occur when human cells could become brain, heart the gestation of an embryo, to embryos are used. The authors or liver cells, to name but a few. ensure that the conditions are most acknowledge funding from the These cells are hugely beneficial in optimal at the time of birth. Engineering and Physical Sciences modern medicine and in principle Research Council. can be used to treat many medical conditions, such as age-related Embryos are covered in soft mucus, Dr. Nicholas Warren, a member blindness, leukaemia, and diabetes. and this was what Prof. Armes of the Armes research group, was Thus, the long-term storage of and coworkers replicated using awarded third place for his work human stem cells without loss of a soft polymeric hydrogel. When on the above research topic in the their pluripotency is of potentially the embryos are placed into this ‘Health and Wellbeing’ category of huge importance in mankind’s hydrogel, it mimics the natural the RSC’s Emerging Technologies attempt to tackle such conditions. mucus that is present during competition held in June 2016. Nick mammalian embryonic diapause, is a former University of Sheffield and stops them growing at body PhD student and has just started temperature- effectively mimicking as a Lecturer at the University of embryonic diapause. When the cells Leeds. Congratulations Nick! were removed from the hydrogel, they resumed growing at a normal Read more at: rate.

© Irene Canton © Irene http://bit.ly/2cWSrYZ Using a hydrogel that mimics the mucus around embryos in diapause, U. Sheffield researchers are able to prevent stem cells I. Canton, N. J. Warren, A. Chahal, K. Amps, A. Wood, R. Weightman, E. Wang, H. Moore, and S. P. and human embryos from differentiating. Armes, ACS Cent. Sci., 2016, 2, 65–74.

17 At any cost? The scandal surrounding performance enhancing drugs By Juliette Craggs Looking back at sporting headlines There seems to be endless vitamins Caffeine was removed in 2004 as in a year that has included the Rio and supplements available, it was considered too difficult to Olympics and Paralympics, there even just for the public, and it’s determine where the cut off lies have been some notable stories, sometimes hard to know what between a normal dietary intake and not all due to fantastic sporting sporting supplements contain. and a performance enhancing dose. achievements. Doping is a word So where is the line between a This means athletes are free to use that has become all too common healthy supplement and a banned it to improve their performance recently, with some of the world’s performance enhancing drug? as much as they like. It’s therefore most popular sporting champions And if a drug’s not on the banned difficult to see why some drugs, like falling foul of WADA (the World substance list but you’re still mildronate, should be banned when Anti Doping Association). only taking it to enhance your caffeine isn’t. performance, are you cheating?

Comparing them to some legal supplements and drugs commonly found in the diet can make it clear how blurry the line of illegality seems. Most of you will consume caffeine on a daily basis, so its The tennis player Maria Sharapova, clearly not illegal. But it was on It’s incredibly difficult to decide is one of the most recent athletes the WADA banned substance list which substances should be legal to hit the headlines after testing until 2004. Any athlete found to but the line has to be drawn positive for mildronate, only have greater than 12 μg/mL in somewhere, and once it has been banned in January of this year. their bloodstream was considered athletes should stick to it or face Mildronate is only approved as a to be using caffeine to enhance serious consequences. Setting up a pharmaceutical drug in Russia, and their performance, as it not only zero tolerance culture seems to be is used to treat ischaemia (a lack of stimulates the brain but also helps the only way of preventing doping blood flow to parts of the body). athletes train harder and longer. from marring future sports events.

After recently having anSurgical operation on his knee, Dan SerumsJenkinson started wondering about the different drugs and chemicals that got pumped into his body. Here’s what he found out!

“Here comes the sleepy juice” said the anaesthetist as he prepped me for surgery and injected me full of a milky looking blend to make sure I couldn’t see, hear or feel anything that would happen over the course of the next two hours. As a scientist I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly the sleepy juice was, but I had passed out before I was able to form this sentence out loud.

Intravenous anaesthesia is often made up of a cocktail of different substances, each with their own specific purpose. The active component of the milky concoction was likely to be a molecule called propofol whose job is to induce amnesia and ensure that there is no memory of the period of time that propofol is in the body. It usually comes as a mixture of 1% propofol, 10% soybean oil, 1.2% egg phospholipid as an emulsifier, 2.25% glycerol as a tonicity- adjusting agent (to balance osmotic pressure), and aqueous sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH. It is believed to interact with the GABAA receptor – a ligand gated ion channel found in nerve cells that is involved in virtually all brain functions. The inhibitory action of propofol drastically slows the progression of signals through the nervous system meaning that the patient would not be able to think or create any memories, wouldn’t be able to move, see or hear anything and most importantly would not be able to feel any pain during the operation!

The levels of anaesthesia in the body are closely monitored to ensure they don’t wear off during the procedure. In general the duration of action of intravenous anaesthetics is between 5 and 10 minutes after which the patient will spontaneously regain consciousness. To stop this from happening, the level of anaesthetic in the body is maintained either by via a suspension of propofol in a drip that enters the body through an intravenous catheter, or by the inhalation of a volatile anaesthetic such as sevoflurane. Historically volatile solvents such as chloroform and diethyl ether have been used as anaesthetics which can cause light-headedness if you breathe in too much! 18 Pushing the Limits How science is advancing the performance of athletes By Matthew Watson

The involvement of science in sport reason a bat’s two sides must be red Perhaps the most famous example has recently been a prominent and black. The players can inspect is the result of the LZR Racer issue; unfortunately, however, for each other’s bats, noting the surface swimsuits. They were designed to the wrong reasons due to doping of each coloured side. This allows increase buoyancy, reduce drag scandals and bans on athletes a player to better predict what his and mould the body into a more competing at the Olympic and opponents shot will do when hit by effective shape. These improvements Paralympic Games. On a positive a certain coloured side. were possible by making the note, however, sports science has suimsuits out of non-textile helped athletes train harder for A technological advancement was material (in some cases, being longer and more effectively without the addition of a special glue known made entirely out of polyurethane). the use of performance-enhancing as speed glue. The effect of using Almost immediately after they drugs. A further key thread in this glue to affix the rubber surface were introduced, world records the entwinement science has with to the bat results in an increased began tumbling to such a great sport, not to be focused upon is amount of spin and speed applied extent that action was taken by the the ground-breaking cutting-edge to the ball. It works by making the International Swimming Federation science in their equipment. Be pores of the rubber surface expand, (FINA) to limit the area of the body it a table tennis racket, boots, or increasing the surface tension and that could be covered by a suit and swimming costumes, scientific providing a trampoline-like effect what material it could be made of. advancement has helped shave for the ball to rebound off. The seconds off times, take the point alteration in the surface only lasts a and all round give competitors an few hours, so it must be added just Another piece of technological edge. before the actual required usage. advancement to help athletes is in the running track, literally! The A useful case study of the effect The advancement track at the Olympic stadium in science has had on sport is the table London was designed to have a tennis racket. In previous forms that science has had special shaped diamond surface it was a simple wooden bat with a to reduce the loss of lateral energy sand paper surface. This provided on the performance when an athlete impacts the surface. minimal grip and so prevented of athletes has the application of spin to the ball, which meant that many of the been monumental, The impact that science has had on incredible curling shots seen in table the performance of athletes has been tennis today could not happen. The whether you have monumental, whether you have addition of rubber to the surface of noticed it or not. noticed it or not. It has not always the bat was a game changer and for been a smooth track however, and more than one reason. The surface questions can be asked about the now had the possibility to have large Speed glue was banned however, point of advancing technology in amounts of grip, allowing the player just before the 2012 London sport further if we have already to spin the ball and add more shots Olympics. The official reason cited seen equipment capable of assisting to their arsenal. A bat of course was health concerns of using volatile competitors to an extent beyond has two sides though, and while organic compounds (VOCs). what sporting bodies deem one side may be a rubber surface Nonetheless, many say that it was acceptable. So what can the future designed to get the most spin, the actually banned as it made the game possibly hold? No matter what other can be designed to get the too fast. It would not be an anomaly the answer, the key role science most speed out of a shot. This allows in sport either, cries of has “science advancement has played, and will a player’s single bat to be used for a gone too far?” have been met many continue to play is evident, and will variety of shots. This is a part of the times with a firm “yes”. ensure that records keep falling. http://www.guidodebres.org/ ©

19 MatthewDave Watson spoke Wetherill to Dave Wetherill about what got himgoes into science, table fortennis and balancing Gold! the two while at University.

This summer had no shortage thinking of it as “the thing my dad of sporting heroes and hopefuls plays”. He said he just wanted to to cheer for. What you may not run around and play football. He realise is how closely connected broke his leg playing football at you are to some of them! At the the age of 10 so he shifted to table time of writing, The University tennis- Dave says “I found it to be a of Sheffield has two alumni silver good sport, where I could compete medallists at Rio, Jessica Ennis-Hill without too many limitations, Dave has competed at Beijing in in the heptathlon, and Bryony Page especially against able bodied 2008, where he finished in the top in trampolining. Someone also people- and as it turns out, I was eight, and London 2012. Although looking to win a medal at Rio and quite good at it.” His dad helped by exiting after the second round in even more closely connected to us taking up coaching and his brother London, he was still able to play is Dave Wetherill, who graduated got into the sport. Dave says this what was called by some “the shot from our department in 2011 and gave him “that target of always of the tournament”; the video so has represented GB in table tennis trying to beat him, and now I’m far has nearly six and a half million at Beijing, London and now the Rio miles better than him and I’ve got views on YouTube. Speaking of his Paralympic Games. the bragging rights!” time at London he said “the home support of friends, family and even some of my class mates cheering me was a surreal experience; being at centre stage, everyone cheering you on, the experience will stay with me forever”. However, along with the highs, he says “it was also one of the biggest disappointments of my career not getting a medal” due to his run-up being stalled by injuries. While Dave is clearly gifted athletically and academically, “Having a chemistry he says that balancing the two degree from the © All images reprinted with permission from David Wetherill. David from permission with reprinted © All images was tough and required a lot of Being a scientist and a professional discipline and a lot of hard work. University of athlete are usually thought of as While he put his body through poles apart, so what brought Dave a tough regime to be an athlete, Sheffield is in the bag towards both of them? As it turns he said “it took more mental out, they both have a related origin; perseverance than physical to turn forever, that’s a great Dave has a rare genetic condition up to early morning lectures, be thing to have and it and while he pointed out he doesn’t in the lab all day, then go straight let his disability define him, it on the tram over to the training fills me with a lot of has had an impact on his life. He centre and train all evening and became interested in science from then do a lab report.” The stress pride.” the biological side of things as it of doing the degree while being While “not wanting to jinx directly related to him, which is an athlete was worth it though- anything” he said his preparation why he took modules in genetics. “having a chemistry degree from the for Rio is progressing well and so Combined with a natural ability University of Sheffield is in the bag long as he can stay injury free he in chemistry and drive to do forever, that’s a great thing to have is hoping to see what he can really something meaningful, the choice and it fills me with a lot of pride”, do. We all wish Dave the very best to do a biological chemistry degree he says. Dave also acknowledges going to Rio and for his future was a natural one. the University, who “trusted me success. His impressive hard work Surprisingly, at an early age Dave to balance the two and helped me and dedication have done the wasn’t interested in table tennis, when I needed it”. department and university proud. David Wetherill’s Paralympics journey ended in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, September 10th in the quarter-finals after missing out on match point in the third set.

Read more at: http://bit.ly/2cMOuWa 20 News from the Department By Dr. Tom Anderson, Beth Crowston, Phil Docherty, Dr. Peter Portius, and Zoe Smallwood Journey to the centre of the atom On March 2nd Dr. Tom Anderson Dr. Anderson’s father Stephen prop in the back of a Hollywood gave a Science Week also contributed his guitar skills science lab. outreach talk titled ‘Journey to the to demonstrate the principle of a The event was well attended with Centre of the Atom’ with assistance standing wave! The talk showed a public turnout of over 60 people from Level 2 student Dan Reader, how our ideas about the atom and Dr. Anderson hopes that the Level 1 student Joanna Curtis and have evolved since the days of next Science Week, technical support from Adam Ford. Democritus in Ancient Greece, which is on the 10th – 19th March and how, in many ways, modern 2017 (a bit longer than a week!), public views of the atom are will be equally popular. still many decades behind the scientific cutting edge. It also included some memorable practical demonstrations, illustrating the principle that a flask of brightly coloured, fuming liquid is not 'real science' unless we are trying to figure out just what is going on there, rather than merely being a ENCPB students visit Sheffield This summer, three scholars from the Lycee Pierre- Gilles de Gennes - ENCPB in Paris visited Sheffield as part of the European Erasmus+ programme to conduct summer internships. Over the course of eight weeks, Romy Jambon, Namizata Fofana and Angèle Reiller conducted preparative inorganic and coordination chemistry projects in the research groups of Prof. Jim Thomas, Dr. Mike Morris and Dr. Peter Portius, respectively. All three projects were met with success, and the three young scholars said that they enjoyed

their stay and being in the city of Sheffield. Portius © Peter

The impressive turnout was a testament to John’s John McCormick Retires! popularity here in the department, with many current students and members of staff attending as well. John was a friendly face around the department, and could always be relied on for a warm smile and pleasant conversation on his rounds delivering the many Amazon parcels to the PhD offices. However, in a speech given by the Head of Department, we discovered that there was more to John than many of us ever knew. Not only does he enjoy taking walks in the Peak District with his son and visiting Blackpool with his wife, he is also an avid Elvis Presley fan and © Sharon Spey © Sharon impersonator. With some egging on from other On the 29th July, John McCormick, the Chemistry members of staff, we were treated to a fine rendition department’s loveable porter, retired after 43 years of of ‘The Wonder of You’, which was met with a roar service for the university. John began working for the of applause. John now hopes to enjoy his retirement university in 1973, and took up his position in our alongside his family, as well as partaking in one of his department in 1977. Over the years, he has made favourite hobbies; betting on the horse racing. All of us numerous friends, many of whom came to celebrate his here in the Chemistry department wish him a happy retirement with him at his party on the 1st of August. retirement and hope he gets some well-deserved rest. 21 ResonanceNEEDS YOU! Events Listings

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