Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2014 - (Page 6)

CHEMISTRY IS OFTEN CALLED THE CENTRAL SCIENCE because it connects the physical sciences with the life sciences and the applied sciences. Knowledge of chemistry is central to our understanding of the physical universe we live in, from the air we breathe to the food we eat to the synthetic fabrics we wear. It is a discipline important to aspiring astronomers, geneticists, and geologists alike. And as these examples show, it is an exciting ﬁeld wide open to discovery and innovation. Chemis by Amy Dusto Building powerful models In chemistryas in biology, ecology, atmospheric science, and many other sciences-research and discovery are not limited to the lab bench. For decades, chemists have relied on computer models to study the structures and properties of molecules and understand complex chemical reactions such as photosynthesis and combustion. In 2013, scientists Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt, and Arieh Warshel shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work combining quantum physics and classical physics in computer simulations. Before their groundbreaking work, molecular structures and simple functions could be modeled with classical mechanical models. The breaking and forming of chemical bonds, on the other hand, required quantum mechanical modeling, which was enormously expensive in terms of computing time. Karplus, Levitt, and Warshel developed a hybrid approach-now called quantum mechanics/ molecular mechanics (QM/MM)-that allows bigger and more complex systems to be modeled. These models have grown-and will continue to grow-more powerful as computers become faster and less expensive. Chemists use computer models to screen compounds and identify potential new drugs. Computer models have also allowed scientists to tweak molecules in existing drugs to make them more effective. And chemists are increasingly combining their experimental data with computer simulations, leading the field into an era sure to be defined by important new discoveries. 6 imagine Mar/Apr 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2014

In My Own Words
Chemistry Is…
Master of Reactions
Fascinated by Photochemistry
What About Labs?
Buckyballs and Nanocrystals
Small Is Big
Chemistry Among the Stars
Making Chemicals Safer, 21st Century Style
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Empowered to Change the World
The Buzz About History
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2014