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Crystals are everywhere in our daily lives. In fact, you'll be amazed at what they can do and how they aid us from being in our bodies and everywhere in nature, from bones to salt and sugar, and also to helping make new materials and technologies (Check out the videos below to learn more about crystal structures).
To increase public awareness of the science of crystallography and its contribution to our understanding of the very basis of life, UNESCO has proclaimed the year 2014 the International Year of Crystallography.
It also commemorates exactly a century ago, when it was discovered that X-rays could be used to 'see' the structure of matter in a non-intrusive manner thanks to the work of William Henry Bragg, William Lawrence Bragg and Max von Laue. Visit UNESCO to learn more about the International Year of Crystallography.
ANSTO is home to much of Australia's expertise in X-ray crystallography and will be supporting UNESCO's endeavours to build public awareness starting with the official launch event in Paris, France on 20 January.
This will be followed by a number of events throughout the year, some involving ANSTO, which we've captured in the calendar below.
Additionally, Dr Maynard-Casely has launched a crystallography blog, which will post a crystal structure a day to help explain how it relates to our lives. The blog has already posted structures as diverse as cocoa butter and adrenaline selecting from over half a million crystal structures determined by scientists across the world.
Visit the official International Year of Crystallography website for other events occurring in your area.