Yesterday on October 9, 2013 at 11:45 a.m., the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was announced and awarded to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel for introducing chemistry to the cyberspace world. They have created computer programs that help chemist determine complex chemical reactions. This was difficult before because as the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences states that “chemical reactions occur at lightning speed; electrons jump between atomic nuclei, hidden from the prying eyes of scientist.” The computer models can imitate a plants process of photosynthesis, which is the process in which the plant’s leaves absorb sunlight and create oxygen as well as energy. Not only that but the models are also able to determine the way experimental medicine will react with a specific protein in the body in treating a disease, by figuring out the interactions between the atoms. Their computer models are a huge step forward for pharmaceutical and industrial companies.
I thought it was interesting because it is a step forward to innovation. It is a step forward in discovering the reactions of new medicine being tested. Their work really caught my attention because it reminded me of the Gas Chromatograph that we saw in one of the lab rooms. I found it interesting how we are using technology to discover and see things that was not possible with the naked eye alone. Their work is really intriguing and hopefully it will open a pathway to new discoveries in chemistry.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/nab-nobel-prize-chemistry-groundbreaking-work-drugs-solar-energy-article-1.1480296
Submitted By: Naomi Granados
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