Comments on: Synchrotrons http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/ Why bother seeing the world for real? Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:01:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Chris Binns http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-144891 Chris Binns Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:57:46 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-144891 I would just like to respond to James Makepeace's comment about DIAMOND not working. In fact I was one of the first users on the machine during the first batch of beam time and it was working just fine. We ran a successful experiment, which I am now writing up as a paper. I can't imagine where his "little bird" came from. As for the usefulness of synchrotrons like DIAMOND it is hard to overestimate their contributions to science and to technological applications. It is important to realise that DIAMOND and other light sources around the world serve a very wide scientific community that spans engineering, physics, biology, chemistry, materials science not to mention archaeology. It is completely different to machines like those at CERN, which are basically looking for new particles but I would vigorously defend those too - what are we if we if we lose our curiosity and sit around whingeing about things. I would suggest that James Makepeace stays away from talking birds. I would just like to respond to James Makepeace’s comment about DIAMOND not working. In fact I was one of the first users on the machine during the first batch of beam time and it was working just fine. We ran a successful experiment, which I am now writing up as a paper. I can’t imagine where his “little bird” came from. As for the usefulness of synchrotrons like DIAMOND it is hard to overestimate their contributions to science and to technological applications. It is important to realise that DIAMOND and other light sources around the world serve a very wide scientific community that spans engineering, physics, biology, chemistry, materials science not to mention archaeology. It is completely different to machines like those at CERN, which are basically looking for new particles but I would vigorously defend those too - what are we if we if we lose our curiosity and sit around whingeing about things.

I would suggest that James Makepeace stays away from talking birds.

]]> By: G http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-144239 G Mon, 28 May 2007 04:36:41 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-144239 How bout the one in Saskatoon. How bout the one in Saskatoon.

]]> By: Brad Plummer http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142505 Brad Plummer Thu, 10 May 2007 19:25:13 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142505 Synchrotrons use a beam of electrons in a circular vacuum pipe to generate light ranging from ultraviolet into the x-ray region. The electrons are guided around the ring by magnets. These are incredibly sophisticated systems that require hundreds of physicists and engineers to operate. Newly built synchrotrons take many months to commission before useful research can be done. One of the primary fields of research nowadays is figuring out the structure of complex proteins. Last fall Roger Kornberg won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for doing exactly that with Stanford's synchrotron. These machines are used every day by literally thousands of scientists from every discipline all over the world. It's unfortunate the level of misunderstanding that seems to surround them - I guarantee that where ever you are right now, you cannot glance in any direction and not have your gaze fall on something that was improved (or invented) because of synchrotron research. For a lot more detail about how synchrotrons work and what they're used for, check out www.lightsources.org Synchrotrons use a beam of electrons in a circular vacuum pipe to generate light ranging from ultraviolet into the x-ray region. The electrons are guided around the ring by magnets. These are incredibly sophisticated systems that require hundreds of physicists and engineers to operate. Newly built synchrotrons take many months to commission before useful research can be done.

One of the primary fields of research nowadays is figuring out the structure of complex proteins. Last fall Roger Kornberg won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for doing exactly that with Stanford’s synchrotron.

These machines are used every day by literally thousands of scientists from every discipline all over the world. It’s unfortunate the level of misunderstanding that seems to surround them - I guarantee that where ever you are right now, you cannot glance in any direction and not have your gaze fall on something that was improved (or invented) because of synchrotron research.

For a lot more detail about how synchrotrons work and what they’re used for, check out http://www.lightsources.org

]]> By: KK http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142181 KK Wed, 09 May 2007 07:06:37 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142181 it'd help if i actually included the url www.synchrotron.com.au it’d help if i actually included the url

http://www.synchrotron.com.au

]]> By: KK http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142180 KK Wed, 09 May 2007 07:05:36 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142180 Not only will my beautiful Australian Synchrotron be supremely useful and versatile, it has its very own pond with ducks. Visit our website for a vast array of synchrotron facts, pictures and even timelapses of construction. We will be opening very soon. Not only will my beautiful Australian Synchrotron be supremely useful and versatile, it has its very own pond with ducks. Visit our website for a vast array of synchrotron facts, pictures and even timelapses of construction. We will be opening very soon.

]]> By: tom http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142128 tom Wed, 09 May 2007 00:55:13 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142128 another one here in melbourne australia: http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=-37.914109,145.142773&spn=0.002755,0.005021&t=h&z=18&om=1 http://www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au another one here in melbourne australia:

Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

http://www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au

]]> By: woowoowoo http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142111 woowoowoo Tue, 08 May 2007 23:41:49 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142111 We have a brand - spanking new synchrotron here in Melbourne, Australia lat/lng:-37.914071,145.142419 - source of much political backslapping. We have a brand - spanking new synchrotron here in Melbourne, Australia Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth - source of much political backslapping.

]]> By: gesh http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142104 gesh Tue, 08 May 2007 23:03:22 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142104 The value is in getting to know the workings of the universe in which we live in. The value is in getting to know the workings of the universe in which we live in.

]]> By: jkster http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142101 jkster Tue, 08 May 2007 22:45:30 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142101 Bitter, James? These accelerators are certainly very interesting forays into science. But when I see the level of effort and money being sunk into projects like CERN (or apparently the wrath-provoking Diamond synchrotron), I wonder about the practical value to mankind of simulating big bangs and "looking inside stuff". Bitter, James?

These accelerators are certainly very interesting forays into science. But when I see the level of effort and money being sunk into projects like CERN (or apparently the wrath-provoking Diamond synchrotron), I wonder about the practical value to mankind of simulating big bangs and “looking inside stuff”.

]]> By: James W Makepeace http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142094 James W Makepeace Tue, 08 May 2007 22:18:41 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/05/08/synchrotrons/#comment-142094 A little bird told me the Diamond synchrotron in UK, which was widely announced to be running on time and on budget actually has never worked. So why did all the money go on delivery bonuses for senior execs ? (... that was largely British tax-payer's money ! ) Tony Blair announced that Diamond was working just fine... more spin from the arch-manipulator of the truth ! When will any serious science come from the Diamond synchrotron. Don't hold your breath !!! A little bird told me the Diamond synchrotron in UK, which was widely announced to be running on time and on budget actually has never worked. So why did all the money go on delivery bonuses for senior execs ? (… that was largely British tax-payer’s money ! ) Tony Blair announced that Diamond was working just fine… more spin from the arch-manipulator of the truth ! When will any serious science come from the Diamond synchrotron. Don’t hold your breath !!!

]]>