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Hulking Biology -

An interview with Dr. Gerry McDermott of the National Center for X-ray Tomography. Dr. Biology tours the the giant monster - synchrotron.

Podcast content summary and time log for Volume 27 of Ask-a-Biologist.


Dr. Gerry McDermott stands in front
of a poster from the movie Hulk.


Keywords and topics that are found in this program: cells, x-rays, tomography, microscope, synchrotron, electrons, magnets, speed of light.


Topic Time
Introduction - driving to the synchrotron 00:00
Basics of cyclotrons and synchrotrons 02:17
What particles are accelerated in a synchrotron? [example of old style T.V.s and their electron guns] 03:05
How fast is the speed of light? 04:22
How magnets are used to accelerate particles by using magnetic attraction and repelling. 04:30
How do you separate electrons from the rest of an atom? 05:01
Linear and circular accelerators. Speed of light and energy in the form or light and heat. 06:25
The fun names of the magnets used to speed up electrons in the synchrotron. 08:02
Funny names of some sub-atomic particles 08:52
What's an X-ray? 09:32
Flashlight observation/activity. 10:12
How are X-rays from the synchrotron used? [CAT scans] 10:25
Projection images - 2-d versus 3-D images. 11:37
What are we able to do with this microscope when looking at cells? 12:56
Some basic synchrotron facts - cost - when built - size - how bright is the A.L.S. light, size of light beam? 14:43
What other types of light besides X-rays are being used? Light spectrum link in the Seeing Color article. 17:42
Filming the movie "Hulk" 18:32
The synchrotron building and instruments do look like they are right out of a science fiction movie. 19:46
What is the sound in the background? Pumps used to create a vacuum. 20:00
The story behind the use of aluminum foil. [vacuum and tire example] 20:38
Inner accelerator ring and outer ring of the syncrotron. [standing on top of the accelerator ring where electron are moving at almost the speed of light] 22:29
What are the flashing red lights for? 24:27
When did you first know you wanted to be a scientist? [young empirical scientist] 25:49
What would you do if you needed to pick another career? [teachers should listen to this] 26:45
What advise do you have for someone thinking about becoming a scientist? [how exciting science is and scientists as explorers] 27:07
How young children are very good at coming up with great questions - they have keen observation skills. 29:03
Sign-off 30:25

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