nPostednon September 4, 2014
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Inlove fullerenes, and I love that they are called “fullerenes”!
Inlove fullerenes, and I love that they are called “fullerenes”!n
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First,nfullerenes are molecules made of carbon that form hollow spheres, tubes, and ellipsoids (oval 3-D shapes, like squashed spheres).
First,nfullerenes are molecules made of carbon that form hollow spheres, tubes, and ellipsoids (oval 3-D shapes, like squashed spheres).n
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nTheynare called “fullerenes” in homage to architect BuckminsternFuller, who pointed out that triangles and hexagons are much strongernshapes to build with than are squares and rectangles. The geodesicndome was one of his inventions.
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nTheynare called “fullerenes” in homage to architect BuckminsternFuller, who pointed out that triangles and hexagons are much strongernshapes to build with than are squares and rectangles. The geodesicndome was one of his inventions.
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nThenword fullerene is, of course,nan homage to Fuller’s last name, but the first fullerene evernprepared – on this date in 1985 – was named buckminsterfullerene.n(That’s a mouthful!) Now scientists call any spherical fullerene anbuckyball, and they call cylindrical fullerenes buckytubes (AKA carbon nanotubes or megatubes).
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nStunningly,nfullerenes have been found in nature and have even been detected innouter space! Here are some quotes from scientists:
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n“Thisnmost exciting breakthrough provides convincing evidence that thenbuckyball has, as I long suspected, existed since time immemorial innthe dark recesses of our galaxy.” – chemist Sir Harry Kroto,none of the scientists who first discovered fullerenes
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n“It’snpossible that buckyballs from outer space provided seeds for life onnEarth.” – astronomer Letizia Stanghellini
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Sonfar fullerenes have been used mostly in the field of medicine.nScientists have used fullerenes to create high-performance agentsnthat provide contrast in MRI and X-ray images (so that doctors can,nfor example, see the locations, sizes, and shapes of tumors). Fullerenes have been used to deliver drugs and genes to the right spot, and theynhave been used in photodynamic therapy, which is the use of non-toxicnlight-sensitive substances to attach to cancer cells or otherndiseased cells; when the substances are exposed to light, they killnthe problem cells. Photodynamic therapy can also kill bacteria,nfungi, and viruses. It’s even used to combat acne!
Sonfar fullerenes have been used mostly in the field of medicine.nScientists have used fullerenes to create high-performance agentsnthat provide contrast in MRI and X-ray images (so that doctors can,nfor example, see the locations, sizes, and shapes of tumors). Fullerenes have been used to deliver drugs and genes to the right spot, and theynhave been used in photodynamic therapy, which is the use of non-toxicnlight-sensitive substances to attach to cancer cells or otherndiseased cells; when the substances are exposed to light, they killnthe problem cells. Photodynamic therapy can also kill bacteria,nfungi, and viruses. It’s even used to combat acne!n
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nAlsonon this date:
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nInventor Martin Wiberg’s birthday
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nNewspapernCarrier Day
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nCivilnServants’ Day in Venezuela
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nBirthdaynof Los Angeles
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nSeptembern holidays
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nSeptembern birthdays
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- Historicaln anniversaries in September
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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