1)
International Year of Crystallography (IYCR
2014)
Now crystallography is fairly self-explanatory, all types of crystals
and precious gemstones come to mind. Crystallography involves the study of
crystal formation and their properties.
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| IYCR2014 |
The IYCR2014 also aims to bring awareness to the biochemical side of
crystal making and studies, which is that of Proteins. Proteins have awe-inspiring 3D structures that assist
with their function in living creatures. The study of protein functions
therefore involves the re-construction of their 3D structure, which is not a
simple task. So, biochemists make protein crystals, both in situ (inside a test-tube) and in sillico (inside the computer) J.
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| Protein composite Molecular surface of several proteins showing their comparitive sizes. From left to right are: Immunoglobulin (IgG) (PDB 1IGY), Hemoglobin (PDB 2DHB), Insulin (PDB 4INS), Adenylate Kinase (PDB 1ZIN), Glutamine Synthetase (PDB 1FPY). Thomas Splettstoesser |
For more information and dates of upcoming events see their website.
If you want to see some cool science 3D illustrations and animations
check out SciStyle – and for fellow scientists it’s good to have his details for upcoming projects
that require modelling…
2)
International Year of Family Farming (IYFF 2014)
Here is a topic that we all are familiar with and participate in
everyday J.
The IYFF tries to bring unity to families by encouraging them to ‘farm’ together
or to create community smallholdings whilst ensuring a more sustainable future
for all through organic practices.
For more information and dates of upcoming events see their website. The IYFF2014 is also supported by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.
Garden Update
We have been having soooo much rain lately!!! So much so I am having
problems with mildews, moulds and black-spot on several of my plants and the
lawn is littered with mushrooms – a rare sight in our usually scorching climate.
Yet when it is not raining the sun is still burning everything to a crisp…
With all the rain the garden has gone absolutely crazy! Including the
pumpkin patch and the pumpkins they produce. We harvested 8 kg worth of squash
on the 30th of Dec 2013, because of all the rain some have grown
enormous… like my newest record-braking Boer patty @ 1.157 kg, which larger than
your face – can probably throw discus with it J . The first record holder was a 613 g green boer patty, which is the same as the largest yellow one in the photo below (check it out @ my folia journal).
Here are a few photos of the forest that is the vegetable garden and
the jungle that is the pumpkin patch;
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| 1st half of veg garden |
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| 2nd half of veg garden |
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| Insectary |
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| Fruit Trees |
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| Pumpkin Patch |
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| Close Up |
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| Onions & Potatoes also in the Patch |
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| Flat White Boer Starke Ayres 'Invincible' |
Related Posts
How to Grow: Squash & Pumpkin
Insectary
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