Name: The wonders of the molecular world, animated
Uploaded: 2020-04-13T15:01:51Z
Duration: 5 min 55 s
Description: Some biological structures are so small that scientists can't see them with even the most powerful microscopes. That's where molecular animator and TED Fellow Janet Iwasa gets creative. Explore vast, unseen molecular worlds as she shares mesmerizing animations that imagine how they might work.

Janet Iwasa: The wonders of the molecular world, animated

The wonders of the molecular world, animated

Some biological structures are so small that scientists can't see them with even the most powerful microscopes. That's where molecular animator and TED Fellow Janet Iwasa gets creative. Explore vast, unseen molecular worlds as she shares mesmerizing animations that imagine how they might work.

The molecular world is a hidden universe bustling with action, where proteins act like cellular highways, machines, and even cleanup crews. Molecules are so tiny they can’t be seen directly, but scientists use creative animations to visualize their roles and behaviors. These imagined molecular landscapes are not just beautiful but essential for understanding life and disease, such as how actin helps immune cells move or how CRISPR edits genes. As researchers animate these invisible realms, they reveal how much is left to explore within every living cell.