From Atoms To Words #5: Summer Edition

Welcome to?From Atoms to Words , the summer edition. Well, summer is almost over—didn't we have fun? We cover a wide range of topics, from non-covalent interactions and my contribution to the discovery that anion-pi bonding may be relevant in proteins, to applying bioinformatics to the writings of Shakespeare and Dante. And, of course, we sift through the usual otherworldly stories, from hydrogen bonding to alien life. Shall we take a closer look? Let's go!

Holy crap, did we just discover a new type of chemical bond?

This is the true story of how I went from almost having to leave Berlin to contributing to the “pioneering” discovery of the anion-pi interactions in proteins.

? The story starts with my scientific gig at the Freie Universit?t Berlin coming to an end. I had been roaming Europe for research, but Berlin had stolen my heart, and I was determined to find a way to stick around. So, I locked myself in a room and started brainstorming a new research concept.

Long story short, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation approved my research on?“Understanding Anion-pi Interactions: From Supramolecular Assemblies to Proteins.”?It was 2011. I’ll admit, I didn’t have high expectations. I thought I was just taking a wild gamble. But boy, was I wrong.?

?? This journey led me to a breakthrough as I?conducted the first systematic RCSB Protein Data Bank study?of all protein structures and?discovered that anion-pi interactions, previously known only for supramolecular assemblies, may?have a role in biological processes.

Amazing, don't you think????

?? Wanna know more? Read further: ?? Holy crap, did we just discover a new type of chemical bond? | #FromAtomsToWords

From Earth to the Cosmos: How Hydrogen Bonds Shape Life

?? Whether you're taking it easy here on Earth, partying in Andromeda, or exploring some far-off corner of the galaxy, chemistry will be the same.

Right. Chemistry doesn't care about where you are in the universe. No matter where you go, under the right conditions, ?? a spark will always ignite a passionate exothermic love ???? between hydrogen and oxygen to give water.

Chemistry is universal.

Now, the universality of chemistry allows us to extrapolate known chemical concepts on Earth to the rest of the universe.

In this story, we talk about the role of hydrogen bonds in life media and molecular machines—read water, proteins, and DNA: here, there, and everywhere.

???? Curious?

?? Read further: ?? From Earth to the Cosmos: How Hydrogen Bonds Shape Life | #FromAtomsToWords

Quantum Biology: The Fuzzy Connection Between Quantum Mechanics and Living Things

?? In my previous life as an active academic researcher, I dived deep into the nitty-gritty of?biothings, using?ab initio?calculations and beyond to explore the metal-based anti-cancer agents like?cisplatin,?NAMI-A, or how?metal binding affects DNA structural characteristics.

?? Oh, and let’s not forget about the hours I spent tinkering with catalysts that?mimic naturally occurring enzymes?and with?photosystem II, the first protein complex involved in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

To cut to the chase, I realized that some of the work I’ve done falls under the umbrella of quantum biology.

So, I asked myself the following question:

?? Is quantum biology a real thing?

The short answer is: yes.

You find the long answer in Quantum Biology: The Fuzzy Connection Between Quantum Mechanics and Living Things . There you will read about:

?? 3 clear examples of quantum effects in biological processes

?? Erwin Schr?dinger and the origin of quantum biology

?? The legacy of the quantum pioneers of the 1920's

?? Discover it all, including references, links, and bad jokes on ?? Quantum Biology: The Fuzzy Connection Between Quantum Mechanics and Living Things | #FromAtomsToWords

Unveiling Literature's Genetic Code: Bioinformatics Meet Shakespeare

Years ago, during a visit to a London museum, I stumbled upon Kenneth Goldsmith's Uncreative Writing—a book that revolutionized my perspective on context as the new content.

?? At the time, my scientific research focused on analyzing known protein structures using bioinformatics. My objective was to explore the existence of a new chemical interaction called anion-π within biological systems.

Eventually, my article titled "Recent Advances in Anion–π Interactions " was published—a pioneering study that highlights the presence of these weak forces within biological structures for the first time.

It was during this period, drawing inspiration from Kenneth Goldsmith's context is the new content , that a fascinating thought crossed my mind:

?? What if I applied bioinformatics to literature?

That day marked the birth of BioText , a journey into unveiling literature's genetic code.

Curious to see Dante's RNA? What about Shakespeare's DNA?

????Join me for an exciting journey into Unveiling Literature's Genetic Code: Bioinformatics Meet Shakespeare | #FromAtomsToWords

A Final Personal Touch: Thank you, Quantistry.

Before every vacation, I always find myself a little worn out. The daily grind, countless hours spent staring at screens, and year-round deadlines... I long for a lengthy escape by the seaside.

Yet, this time, something feels different.

I am grateful.

Blending sales, marketing, and science, and engaging with international customers... Communicating intricate details of quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, and multiscale simulations to diverse audiences - I have realized that my scientific knowledge combined with sales expertise can really have an impact, for example in combating climate change or supporting R&D endeavors towards electrification.

Truly invaluable.

Moreover, collaborating with brilliant minds, from computational chemists to marketing experts and software developers. Colleagues from various countries, backgrounds, and languages, all united in my beloved city of Berlin. How could I possibly ask for more?

A few years ago, I left academia and my research on biologically relevant systems. Now, I find myself exploring an incredible array of fields: polymers, alloys, battery materials, optics... I'm absorbing scientific knowledge like a sponge.

I am grateful. Because, in a curious twist of fate, my passion for ‘quantum,’ my blog, and my creative writing (yes, I've finally drafted my second novel set in 1920s Berlin, infused with ‘quantum’ history) have converged.I couldn't ask for anything more.

Thank you, Quantistry .

[from Quantistry's social media stream ]

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Today we talked about:

#QuantumChemistry #AtomisticSimulations #Astrochemistry #QuantumBiology #Schrodinger #NonCovalentInteractions #HydrogenBonding #Chemistry #FromAtomsToWords?#Summer #Quantistry #ScienceAndWriting #Bioinformatics #Literature