Articles by Sean
Why Does Nature Hate The Color Blue?
Nature is full of color; just look around you. Animals and plants are incredibly vibrant with different hues, resulting in millions of years of evolution. And despite being relatively common in everyday objects, one specific color eludes our natural world: blue. Blue is a forgotten color in nature’s palette. When was the last time you saw a blue animal, insect or plant? Even the rare blue hues that exist in nature result from physical phenomena and not true blue pigmentation. […]
Origins of Atomic Theory
If all the knowledge of humanity was to be completely erased save for a single concept, which one should we choose to keep? The great physicist Richard Feynman once hypothesized that our best bet would be for the concept of atomic theory to stick around, such is its importance to science. Many inventions and discoveries have been founded upon our knowledge of how the atom works. It is definitely worth understanding the long and rich history of atomic theory. […]
G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in Drug Discovery
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a big role in the human body. As they maintain many of our key functions, much research is done to better understand the structure and function of GPCRs. In addition, GPCRs are potential starting points in many drug discovery programs. We look at how X-ray crystallography can provide a method to probe the structure of GPCRs, with a case study of the μ-opioid receptor. […]
No, Education is Not a Social Leveler
There is no doubt that education is a major social issue for countries across the globe, albeit one that is actively being tackled. We see terms like ‘equal opportunity’ and ‘equality of outcome’ thrown about as the result of having a quality education. However, these idealistic buzz phrases make a feeble attempt at showcasing the severe deficiencies in education systems today. Education is often seen as a way to equal the playing field, but what if this is instead a social power play? How can we—with the power of scientific literacy—establish true equality? […]
Chromatography: A Concise Guide
Chromatography techniques are widely used, with the bulk of them being variations of liquid and gas chromatography. As a scientist, it is important to know the tools for analysis available, and how to apply them to your research. This guide touches on the principles behind chromatography and compares some of the most common techniques in use today. […]
Sean is a consultant for clients in the pharmaceutical industry and is a lecturer at a local university, where unfortunate undergrads are subject to his ramblings on chemistry and pharmacology.
