WAAR WIJ TROTS OP ZIJN

abundant bonding in chemistry
by Martijn Verdoes
Synthetic organic chemistry and biochemistry: two apparently
completely different branches of chemistry. Yet they can come
together in one researcher, which is the case with Martijn Verdoes
whose PhD research manages to combine the best of both worlds.
His project relates to selectively labeling particular proteins in order
to make them visible and to isolate them. The molecules that he
constructs are also useful as a tool for such purposes as understanding
new vaccines.
Of measuring, modeling and membranes
by Timon Idema and Stefan Semrau
To say that they are studying the very origin of life may be going
rather far. It is, however, undeniable that physicists Timon Idema
and Stefan Semrau, researchers at LION, are contributing to
knowledge about the origin of cells. In a unique partnership
between theoretician and experimenter, it became clear how
primitive cells can organise themselves naturally: in the shape of a
peanut.
keys and encryption: out-calculating the enemy
by Robbert de Haan
‘Multi-channel cryptography relies on sending a message via
different routes at the same time. In normal cryptography, you use
encryption to prevent a spy intercepting and deciphering a message.
With the multi-channel method developed by Robbert de Haan,
the message can be intercepted, but not via all the channels.
Dividing the message into a large number of small fragments which
can be shuffled and sent via different routes, allows you to limit the
damage. And, better still, if you use smart maths to shuffle the
segments, the would-be eavesdropper will be unable to read any
parts of the message even though he may have access to some of the
channels. The intended recipient, on the other hand, will be able to
decipher the whole message, even if some of the channels are
completely blocked.
Moss enigma resolved
by Michael Stech
As a young boy in Germany, Michael Stech was always busy with
plants. At the age of thirteen he started a herbarium, at seventeen
he specialised in mosses, about which he wrote two articles.
His enthusiasm is just as strong today. Stech has studied the curious
distribution pattern of a group of mosses of the genus Echinodium.
They can be found on islands in the Atlantic Ocean (the Azores,
Madeira and the Canary Islands) and on the far side of the world, in
the Pacific region around New Zealand, but nowhere else. Stech has
resolved this enigma.
the hunt for Remefra
by Remco van der Burg, Francis Vuijsje, Meta de Hoon and
Ignas Snellen
Just left school and already discovered a new planet! This was the
experience of three Leiden bachelor’s students of astronomy,
supervised by lecturer Ignas Snellen. In the May holiday of 2007,
the pc’s of almost all their fellow astronomers were ‘taken over’ for
the planet hunt, that consisted mainly of analysing an enormous
amount of data. Some 800 potential stars were discovered. Although
the majority proved to be false alarms, finally nine real ‘transit
candidates’ remained. One of these exhibited all the characteristics
of a bona fide exoplanet. A bit bigger than Jupiter, with an orbital
period of two days, eleven hours and forty minutes. In orbit around
a star 1500 light years away.
41