Thread by @jesswade

SO EXCITED for the @ExRdFestival this weekend (June 18/19). Join the #ChiralCrew in the Magnificent Molecules zone to talk spiral shells, drug design, spin control and the future of technology. 🧪🌀 #ChemTwitter greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk

We’ve even got merch! 😃🌀 #ChiralCrew

Louis Minion, an amazing PhD researcher in the #ChiralCrew, successfully applied for a @RoySocChem Outreach Grant. With the ££ we were able to buy a jazzy 3D printer that can print enantiomorphs simultaneously (🤯). Join us @ExRdFestival to play w/ 3D chiral molecules 🌀!(📸: MW)

…we’re not only interested in chiral structures, but also how chiral materials can twist light. To try and visualise this @ExRdFestival, the #ChiralCrew will be exploring optical rotation using linear polarisers and cellulose tape! 🌀🌈

…The #ChiralCrew will also have some low-tech optical rotation experiments @ExRdFestival: paper cup kaleidoscopes! 🌀🤯

…you know what else is chiral? sugar! here’s a *sweet* little demo of optical rotation using corn syrup. 🌀🌈 #ChiralCrew @ExRdFestival

…so far our #ChiralCrew demos have shown how chiral molecules can twist linearly polarised light. when unpolarised light hits these beetle’s shells, the reflected light is circularly polarised (!): and you can see that through that through the LH + RH lenses of 3D glasses! 🌈🪲

The handedness of circularly polarised light is reversed when it hits off a mirror, so left-handed light becomes right-handed + vice versa. You can see that by looking through 3D cinema 🕶s at the light reflected off beetle shells reflected in a mirror. #ChiralCrew @ExRdFestival

The #ChiralCrew stand explores chiral objects (helices, fusilli), chirality in nature (DNA, fragrances, sea shells) and how chirality will transform technology (efficient displays, room temp spintronic devices). Want to learn more? Join us @ExRdFestival, we can give you a hand 👐

welcome to the #ChiralCrew, @sainsburys 😋

we’ve even got both handednesses of fusilli 🌀✌️! (one is regular and one is brown rice) #ChiralCrew @ExRdFestival

chiral molecules can smell very differently, depending on whether you have the left- or right-handed form. don’t believe us? come and smell the #ChiralCrew limonene and carvone @ExRdFestival 👃🏼🍋🍊🌀

…Lots of sweet wrappers are made from cellophane, thin sheets of the naturally occurring biopolymer cellulose. the birefringence of these wrappers looks pretty neat through linear polarisers! 🫶🌈 #ChiralCrew @ExRdFestival

they remind me of these super cool laminates made by @VignoliniLab in 2019. 🌀

Ah! I was so tired after y’day’s excitement that I broke the thread. Trying again…

Candy!

Today is Father’s Day in the UK, so of course the #ChiralCrew *have* to honour Pasteur, the artist/winemaker/chemist/microbiologist who was the first to define molecular chirality. Pasteur was born 200 years ago this year! Pasteur appreciation thread below. 😃. @ExRdFestival

As part of the #ChiralCrew stand @ExRdFestival we made a Pastarimeter: a device that shows how light becomes circularly polarised as it travels through a chiral medium. The pastarimeter uses right-handed and left-handed fusilli to twist water clockwise and anti-clockwise! 🍝🌀

to test out the enantioselective olfactory sensing capabilities of the crowds at @ExRdFestival, the #ChiralCrew used filter paper strips coated in LH and RH carvone and limonene. we only had to buy 1 ml of each fragrance, and barely used a drop! it was amazingly effective. 🍋🍑👃🏼

The #ChiralCrew are an interdisciplinary bunch of scientists and engineers across multiple different career stages. 😎✌️

Do you want to join the #ChiralCrew? Take our enantio-exam: mac762.outgrow.us/mac762-3 and let me know your score. Champions will get a stylish vinyl sticker. 🌀

If you’re a secondary school teacher and would like some A3 #ChiralCrew posters OR if you’re a primary school teacher who’d like some chiral scavenger hunts, please reach out! I am happy to post. 💜✉️🌀

Official photographs of the #ChiralCrew @ExRdFestival, captured by the epic Imperial College photographer Thomas Angus @thethomasangus. 😃 (cc @_AishaMumtaz_ @louis_minion)

unexpected new member of the #ChiralCrew: ancient beavers

I went through some old photos and it turns out I was a major #ChiralCrew baking nerd circa 2015. 😏😋🌀

note: galaxies are chiral too ✌️🌀 hope y’all are having fun at @chirality2022 #ChiralCrew