Radicals!
This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2023.
The free radical theory of ageing states that processes such as damage to DNA and protein crosslinking that contribute to ageing are a result of free radicals. These are molecules that contain unpaired electrons and are very reactive. Your body counters the damage done by producing protective antioxidant molecules and understanding this process is a target for healthy ageing.
Free radicals can be studied using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy, this uses magnetic fields and microwaves to detect unpaired electrons. It is not only free radicals that contain unpaired electrons; molecules with unpaired electrons are also important in chemistry, used in solar cells and OLED screen displays and may even be the basis for the working bits in next generation quantum computers.
Join the team from the University of Manchester, National Research Facility for EPR and from Swansea University to find out what radicals are, how and why we study them and the reactions and technologies for which they are used. Have a go at measuring your own sample of everyday materials containing unpaired electrons in radicals or metals using our portable EPR spectrometers. See the effect antioxidants have on the radical signal and shine light on a sample to generate radicals and measure their increase in real time.
Attending the event
This drop-in activity will be held in Wolfson 2 room on Wednesday 5 July 2023, 10am — 4.30pm.
- Free to attend
- In person only
- No registration required
- Suitable for everyone
- Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
- Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café
For all enquiries, please email us.