• Question: Whats the most interesting thing you've ever some across in your research?

    Asked by 759urak33 to Sajid, anuantony, Duncan, Jayne, Katherine on 8 Nov 2017. This question was also asked by Grace, Todd.
    • Photo: Duncan McNicholl

      Duncan McNicholl answered on 8 Nov 2017:

      I’ve not been doing research for very long, but a long time ago I did a little bit of chemistry research, and we found that a simple molecule did a really good job of speeding up the breakdown of dirt and oils if you shine light on it. They use a similar molecule for some kinds of building paint, because it means that it cleans itself in sunlight. That’s pretty interesting.

    • Photo: Jayne Ede

      Jayne Ede answered on 9 Nov 2017:

      In my job it’s that evolution is happening so constantly that even in our recent past, creatures have evolved in nature which have enzymes (molecules in their bodies) capable of digesting/processing toxic chemicals. Including pesticides (which are relevant to my job) and plastics. So we can research those creatures to find solutions to the problems we’re trying to solve at work!

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