Catchy songs and viruses | Rebecca Waldecker | TEDxUniHalle

hi earlier this year I was in Australia

hi earlier this year I was in Australia for the first time actually I visited

for the first time actually I visited

for the first time actually I visited the University of Western Australia in

the University of Western Australia in

the University of Western Australia in Perth and one of my colleagues there

Perth and one of my colleagues there

Perth and one of my colleagues there told me something something funny I

told me something something funny I

told me something something funny I think about the Australian national

think about the Australian national

think about the Australian national anthem he said that basically no one

anthem he said that basically no one

anthem he said that basically no one there knows the lyrics I think this is

there knows the lyrics I think this is

there knows the lyrics I think this is hilarious just imagine you’re at some

hilarious just imagine you’re at some

hilarious just imagine you’re at some occasion some celebration and you’re

occasion some celebration and you’re

occasion some celebration and you’re supposed to feel really patriotic and

supposed to feel really patriotic and

supposed to feel really patriotic and they play the room and you want to sing

they play the room and you want to sing

they play the room and you want to sing along and you can’t because you don’t

along and you can’t because you don’t

along and you can’t because you don’t know the words and people aren’t

know the words and people aren’t

know the words and people aren’t embarrassed about this they just think

embarrassed about this they just think

embarrassed about this they just think it’s funny and I agree I think it’s

it’s funny and I agree I think it’s

it’s funny and I agree I think it’s hilarious so I asked him why why do

hilarious so I asked him why why do

hilarious so I asked him why why do people not know the words and he said

people not know the words and he said

people not know the words and he said you just have to look at it you will

you just have to look at it you will

you just have to look at it you will immediately see why people don’t know

immediately see why people don’t know

immediately see why people don’t know the words so let’s have a look these are

the words so let’s have a look these are

the words so let’s have a look these are the words of the Australian national

the words of the Australian national

the words of the Australian national anthem I’m not going to read them to you

anthem I’m not going to read them to you

anthem I’m not going to read them to you and I’m also not going to sing the

and I’m also not going to sing the

and I’m also not going to sing the anthem to you let’s just notice that

anthem to you let’s just notice that

anthem to you let’s just notice that there is just one line that repeats

there is just one line that repeats

there is just one line that repeats itself in joyful strains then let us

itself in joyful strains then let us

itself in joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Fair everything

sing Advance Australia Fair everything

sing Advance Australia Fair everything else there’s no repetition so many

else there’s no repetition so many

else there’s no repetition so many different lines how on earth are you

different lines how on earth are you

different lines how on earth are you supposed to remember all that let’s look

supposed to remember all that let’s look

supposed to remember all that let’s look at a different song fly Robin fly here

at a different song fly Robin fly here

at a different song fly Robin fly here are the lyrics of fly Robin fly fly

are the lyrics of fly Robin fly fly

are the lyrics of fly Robin fly fly Robin fly fly Robin fly fly Robin fly up

Robin fly fly Robin fly fly Robin fly up

Robin fly fly Robin fly fly Robin fly up up to the sky

up to the sky

up to the sky and then you repeat that a lot and

and then you repeat that a lot and

and then you repeat that a lot and that’s the whole song that’s easy to

that’s the whole song that’s easy to

that’s the whole song that’s easy to remember right and actually you should

remember right and actually you should

remember right and actually you should look at the video on YouTube it’s it’s

look at the video on YouTube it’s it’s

look at the video on YouTube it’s it’s really funny with the dancing and then

really funny with the dancing and then

really funny with the dancing and then also you can convince yourselves that

also you can convince yourselves that

also you can convince yourselves that I’m not lying these are all the words

now let’s translate this to something

now let’s translate this to something different let’s describe the structure

different let’s describe the structure

different let’s describe the structure of mosaics on the floor this is the

of mosaics on the floor this is the

of mosaics on the floor this is the first example lots of blue little tiles

first example lots of blue little tiles

first example lots of blue little tiles we see three different shades of blue

we see three different shades of blue

we see three different shades of blue that has all have the same size and now

that has all have the same size and now

that has all have the same size and now imagine you want to describe to someone

imagine you want to describe to someone

imagine you want to describe to someone what this pattern looks like describing

what this pattern looks like describing

what this pattern looks like describing this is a little bit like describing the

this is a little bit like describing the

this is a little bit like describing the lyrics of the Australian national anthem

lyrics of the Australian national anthem

lyrics of the Australian national anthem there is no pattern no repetition how

there is no pattern no repetition how

there is no pattern no repetition how are you ever going to describe this you

are you ever going to describe this you

are you ever going to describe this you have to describe the position of every

have to describe the position of every

have to describe the position of every single tile the color that it has and

single tile the color that it has and

single tile the color that it has and then the next one and the next one and

then the next one and the next one and

then the next one and the next one and the next one it will take forever here’s

the next one it will take forever here’s

the next one it will take forever here’s something that presents a little bit

something that presents a little bit

something that presents a little bit more the lyrics of fly Robin fly a chess

more the lyrics of fly Robin fly a chess

more the lyrics of fly Robin fly a chess board pattern

board pattern

board pattern imagine you’re standing on the black

imagine you’re standing on the black

imagine you’re standing on the black tile in front of you you see a white

tile in front of you you see a white

tile in front of you you see a white tile on the left on the right behind you

tile on the left on the right behind you

tile on the left on the right behind you diagonally you will see more black tiles

diagonally you will see more black tiles

diagonally you will see more black tiles it’s very easy to describe what is

it’s very easy to describe what is

it’s very easy to describe what is happening there if you turn around 90

happening there if you turn around 90

happening there if you turn around 90 degrees it looks the same if you turn

degrees it looks the same if you turn

degrees it looks the same if you turn around the other way for 90 degrees

around the other way for 90 degrees

around the other way for 90 degrees again it looks the same so there is a

again it looks the same so there is a

again it looks the same so there is a lot of regularity a lot of repetition a

lot of regularity a lot of repetition a

lot of regularity a lot of repetition a lot of symmetry there is rotational

lot of symmetry there is rotational

lot of symmetry there is rotational symmetry and also there are reflection

symmetry and also there are reflection

symmetry and also there are reflection axes in this pattern and this is why

axes in this pattern and this is why

axes in this pattern and this is why it’s so easy to describe this mosaic

it’s so easy to describe this mosaic

it’s so easy to describe this mosaic this is a lot more like fly Robin fly

this is a lot more like fly Robin fly

this is a lot more like fly Robin fly and this also works with more complex

and this also works with more complex

and this also works with more complex structures so here are two pictures of

structures so here are two pictures of

structures so here are two pictures of snowflakes and again you see symmetry

snowflakes and again you see symmetry

snowflakes and again you see symmetry exhibited you see six different

exhibited you see six different

exhibited you see six different rotations that you can do and also six

rotations that you can do and also six

rotations that you can do and also six different reflection axes and in fact

different reflection axes and in fact

different reflection axes and in fact you can use the symmetry to distinguish

you can use the symmetry to distinguish

you can use the symmetry to distinguish between real snowflakes and fake

between real snowflakes and fake

between real snowflakes and fake snowflakes

snowflakes

snowflakes that sometimes you see for Christmas

that sometimes you see for Christmas

that sometimes you see for Christmas decoration they will have an Eightfold

decoration they will have an Eightfold

decoration they will have an Eightfold rotational symmetry and that’s not real

rotational symmetry and that’s not real

rotational symmetry and that’s not real and also there are so many different

and also there are so many different

and also there are so many different snowflakes they are all individual but

snowflakes they are all individual but

snowflakes they are all individual but they all have this symmetry in common

they all have this symmetry in common

they all have this symmetry in common and there is something else namely the

and there is something else namely the

and there is something else namely the benzene molecule that exhibits the same

benzene molecule that exhibits the same

benzene molecule that exhibits the same kind of symmetry I chose this picture

kind of symmetry I chose this picture

kind of symmetry I chose this picture because it beautifully shows the the PI

because it beautifully shows the the PI

because it beautifully shows the the PI orbital clouds of the delocalized

orbital clouds of the delocalized

orbital clouds of the delocalized electrons that’s the violet clouds that

electrons that’s the violet clouds that

electrons that’s the violet clouds that you see and if you want to do

you see and if you want to do

you see and if you want to do calculations for example if you want to

calculations for example if you want to

calculations for example if you want to calculate energy levels of electrons

calculate energy levels of electrons

calculate energy levels of electrons then usually you would have to solve

then usually you would have to solve

then usually you would have to solve lots of differential equations but you

lots of differential equations but you

lots of differential equations but you can make life a little bit easier by

can make life a little bit easier by

can make life a little bit easier by using the symmetry of this molecule and

using the symmetry of this molecule and

using the symmetry of this molecule and this works also in 3d now we look at

this works also in 3d now we look at

this works also in 3d now we look at crystals so this is zinc oxide and on

crystals so this is zinc oxide and on

crystals so this is zinc oxide and on the next picture we see magnesium oxide

the next picture we see magnesium oxide

the next picture we see magnesium oxide and there you see a big regularity again

and there you see a big regularity again

and there you see a big regularity again if you describe a little piece of the

if you describe a little piece of the

if you describe a little piece of the crystal then you can say well the rest

crystal then you can say well the rest

crystal then you can say well the rest is just repetition and symmetry and this

is just repetition and symmetry and this

is just repetition and symmetry and this way you can very easily describe the

way you can very easily describe the

way you can very easily describe the structure of the whole crystal and there

structure of the whole crystal and there

structure of the whole crystal and there is research here in Haller going on that

is research here in Haller going on that

is research here in Haller going on that uses symmetry of crystals to do

uses symmetry of crystals to do

uses symmetry of crystals to do calculations these pictures are from a

calculations these pictures are from a

calculations these pictures are from a tsk Luther for example who did work like

tsk Luther for example who did work like

tsk Luther for example who did work like this in physics here in Halle now we

this in physics here in Halle now we

this in physics here in Halle now we come to viruses this is a picture of a

come to viruses this is a picture of a

come to viruses this is a picture of a model of a virus that also exhibits

model of a virus that also exhibits

model of a virus that also exhibits symmetry if you look at the middle then

symmetry if you look at the middle then

symmetry if you look at the middle then you see this point where you have

you see this point where you have

you see this point where you have something regular around it if you turn

something regular around it if you turn

something regular around it if you turn it five times it will look the same

it five times it will look the same

it five times it will look the same again so again you have rotational

again so again you have rotational

again so again you have rotational symmetry that you can spot right there

symmetry that you can spot right there

symmetry that you can spot right there in the middle and I would like to talk

in the middle and I would like to talk

in the middle and I would like to talk about viruses and about the regularity

about viruses and about the regularity

about viruses and about the regularity that they exhibit a little bit more

that they exhibit a little bit more

that they exhibit a little bit more because I think it’s not clear and also

because I think it’s not clear and also

because I think it’s not clear and also it was not clear to biologists when this

it was not clear to biologists when this

it was not clear to biologists when this research started why viruses look like

research started why viruses look like

research started why viruses look like this why should they be of this

this why should they be of this

this why should they be of this spherical shape why should they exhibit

spherical shape why should they exhibit

spherical shape why should they exhibit so much symmetry what’s the reason

so much symmetry what’s the reason

so much symmetry what’s the reason so in the beginning and I would say it’s

so in the beginning and I would say it’s

so in the beginning and I would say it’s that in the 50s maybe with the first

that in the 50s maybe with the first

that in the 50s maybe with the first model in the beginning people looked at

model in the beginning people looked at

model in the beginning people looked at models for viruses that were icosahedral

models for viruses that were icosahedral

models for viruses that were icosahedral so you have a lot of triangles put

so you have a lot of triangles put

so you have a lot of triangles put together and then things became more

together and then things became more

together and then things became more complex and we will come back to that in

complex and we will come back to that in

complex and we will come back to that in a little moment but before we do let us

a little moment but before we do let us

a little moment but before we do let us just quickly remind ourselves what a

just quickly remind ourselves what a

just quickly remind ourselves what a virus looks like and what the building

virus looks like and what the building

virus looks like and what the building blocks are so first of all inside you

blocks are so first of all inside you

blocks are so first of all inside you have the most important bit namely the

have the most important bit namely the

have the most important bit namely the genomic information there you have the

genomic information there you have the

genomic information there you have the information that describes the structure

information that describes the structure

information that describes the structure of the virus and this is essential for

of the virus and this is essential for

of the virus and this is essential for reproduction so that’s the information

reproduction so that’s the information

reproduction so that’s the information that needs to be copied copied that the

that needs to be copied copied that the

that needs to be copied copied that the virus can reproduce itself and it’s

virus can reproduce itself and it’s

virus can reproduce itself and it’s better if it works quickly so this

better if it works quickly so this

better if it works quickly so this information should be read quickly it

information should be read quickly it

information should be read quickly it should be understood quickly and the new

should be understood quickly and the new

should be understood quickly and the new viruses should be built quickly then

viruses should be built quickly then

viruses should be built quickly then around that to protect the genomic

around that to protect the genomic

around that to protect the genomic information you have so called capsid

information you have so called capsid

information you have so called capsid containers they are built from protein

containers they are built from protein

containers they are built from protein and they protect the important genomic

and they protect the important genomic

and they protect the important genomic information within and then sometimes

information within and then sometimes

information within and then sometimes you have some additional hull around

you have some additional hull around

you have some additional hull around these capsid containers they depend for

these capsid containers they depend for

these capsid containers they depend for example on the environment in which the

example on the environment in which the

example on the environment in which the viruses live live sorry that’s a model

viruses live live sorry that’s a model

viruses live live sorry that’s a model that looks a bit more 3d it’s very

that looks a bit more 3d it’s very

that looks a bit more 3d it’s very beautiful I think the disease the

beautiful I think the disease the

beautiful I think the disease the diseases I should say because they’re

diseases I should say because they’re

diseases I should say because they’re several attached to it are not that

several attached to it are not that

several attached to it are not that pretty pretty this is a human herpes

pretty pretty this is a human herpes

pretty pretty this is a human herpes virus there are a bunch of them and this

virus there are a bunch of them and this

virus there are a bunch of them and this is type 8 and I’m showing this because

is type 8 and I’m showing this because

is type 8 and I’m showing this because you can see a lot of detail in the

you can see a lot of detail in the

you can see a lot of detail in the structure on the surface but the little

structure on the surface but the little

structure on the surface but the little red triangle also exhibits the basic

red triangle also exhibits the basic

red triangle also exhibits the basic triangular shape that was used to model

triangular shape that was used to model

triangular shape that was used to model the surface this is taken from a

the surface this is taken from a

the surface this is taken from a research article from 2000 this picture

research article from 2000 this picture

research article from 2000 this picture so these models are used in actual

so these models are used in actual

so these models are used in actual research on viruses and I would like to

research on viruses and I would like to

research on viruses and I would like to now explain a little bit how symmetry

now explain a little bit how symmetry

now explain a little bit how symmetry enters the

enters the

enters the picture so let’s come back to the

picture so let’s come back to the

picture so let’s come back to the picture from earlier in the first model

picture from earlier in the first model

picture from earlier in the first model the yellow one

the yellow one

the yellow one you have the icosahedron so you have

you have the icosahedron so you have

you have the icosahedron so you have triangles to cover the surface and then

triangles to cover the surface and then

triangles to cover the surface and then the orange one still has triangles but

the orange one still has triangles but

the orange one still has triangles but more of them and then things become more

more of them and then things become more

more of them and then things become more complicated more complex this is because

complicated more complex this is because

complicated more complex this is because they have been classes of viruses that

they have been classes of viruses that

they have been classes of viruses that just could not be explained with the

just could not be explained with the

just could not be explained with the models that were there at the time

models that were there at the time

models that were there at the time so things developed from the 50s with

so things developed from the 50s with

so things developed from the 50s with the first models Patrick and Watson

the first models Patrick and Watson

the first models Patrick and Watson through the 60s with some more elaborate

through the 60s with some more elaborate

through the 60s with some more elaborate models and then something happened or

models and then something happened or

models and then something happened or some one happened I should say I don’t

some one happened I should say I don’t

some one happened I should say I don’t vowel came along with her team and they

vowel came along with her team and they

vowel came along with her team and they used something completely different for

used something completely different for

used something completely different for the surfaces of the viruses and that was

the surfaces of the viruses and that was

the surfaces of the viruses and that was the key to understanding more complex

the key to understanding more complex

the key to understanding more complex classes of viruses they used Penrose

classes of viruses they used Penrose

classes of viruses they used Penrose tilings a periodic tilings of the

tilings a periodic tilings of the

tilings a periodic tilings of the surface that can be used to cover the

surface that can be used to cover the

surface that can be used to cover the surface of the virus model so there are

surface of the virus model so there are

surface of the virus model so there are lots of things to be learned from this

lots of things to be learned from this

lots of things to be learned from this first of all I should start by saying

first of all I should start by saying

first of all I should start by saying that them twerks

that them twerks

that them twerks new approach made it possible to have a

new approach made it possible to have a

new approach made it possible to have a deeper understanding of viruses not just

deeper understanding of viruses not just

deeper understanding of viruses not just what they look like but also how they

what they look like but also how they

what they look like but also how they work our models make it possible to link

work our models make it possible to link

work our models make it possible to link changes in structure of a virus to

changes in structure of a virus to

changes in structure of a virus to changes in function and this could be

changes in function and this could be

changes in function and this could be key to understanding how not just how

key to understanding how not just how

key to understanding how not just how the viruses work but also how they can

the viruses work but also how they can

the viruses work but also how they can be fought and in particular when the

be fought and in particular when the

be fought and in particular when the viruses have a very high reproduction

viruses have a very high reproduction

viruses have a very high reproduction rate so there’s a lot of mutation in

rate so there’s a lot of mutation in

rate so there’s a lot of mutation in very short time when it might be crucial

very short time when it might be crucial

very short time when it might be crucial to see changes in function namely

to see changes in function namely

to see changes in function namely changes in structure very quickly that

changes in structure very quickly that

changes in structure very quickly that makes it easier to fight whatever

makes it easier to fight whatever

makes it easier to fight whatever disease they are causing and also I

disease they are causing and also I

disease they are causing and also I think I think there’s another lesson to

think I think there’s another lesson to

think I think there’s another lesson to learn and that has to do with the

learn and that has to do with the

learn and that has to do with the research on Penrose tilings that was

research on Penrose tilings that was

research on Penrose tilings that was done for example during the 70s in fact

done for example during the 70s in fact

done for example during the 70s in fact people have been studying a periodic

people have been studying a periodic

people have been studying a periodic tilings before but then Penrose tilings

tilings before but then Penrose tilings

tilings before but then Penrose tilings can

can

can and at the time I’m not sure whether

and at the time I’m not sure whether

and at the time I’m not sure whether people thought about immediate

people thought about immediate

people thought about immediate applications and maybe that’s the lesson

applications and maybe that’s the lesson

applications and maybe that’s the lesson that is to be learned here very often

that is to be learned here very often

that is to be learned here very often funding for research is linked to

funding for research is linked to

funding for research is linked to immediate applications maybe there

immediate applications maybe there

immediate applications maybe there should be an immediate way to make money

should be an immediate way to make money

should be an immediate way to make money out of the results why why shouldn’t

out of the results why why shouldn’t

out of the results why why shouldn’t people just do research on topics they

people just do research on topics they

people just do research on topics they find important and fascinating and then

find important and fascinating and then

find important and fascinating and then they can spend time and energy and they

they can spend time and energy and they

they can spend time and energy and they will have fun working on it and then

will have fun working on it and then

will have fun working on it and then they will find great things and they

they will find great things and they

they will find great things and they will prove great results and who knows

will prove great results and who knows

will prove great results and who knows maybe applications will come along a lot

maybe applications will come along a lot

maybe applications will come along a lot later who would have thought that

later who would have thought that

later who would have thought that Penrose tilings lead to research that

Penrose tilings lead to research that

Penrose tilings lead to research that might save lives one day who would have

might save lives one day who would have

might save lives one day who would have thought so to wrap it up in the concepts

thought so to wrap it up in the concepts

thought so to wrap it up in the concepts that I explained symmetry is used for

that I explained symmetry is used for

that I explained symmetry is used for example to analyze complex structures

example to analyze complex structures

example to analyze complex structures and turned us down them better for

and turned us down them better for

and turned us down them better for example with viruses symmetry was used

example with viruses symmetry was used

example with viruses symmetry was used to explain how a very small amount of

to explain how a very small amount of

to explain how a very small amount of genomic information can capture the

genomic information can capture the

genomic information can capture the whole information about the structure of

whole information about the structure of

whole information about the structure of a virus that you need to reproduce it if

a virus that you need to reproduce it if

a virus that you need to reproduce it if there is a lot of symmetry then it’s

there is a lot of symmetry then it’s

there is a lot of symmetry then it’s easy to capture the information on a

easy to capture the information on a

easy to capture the information on a very tiny bit of room as we saw with the

very tiny bit of room as we saw with the

very tiny bit of room as we saw with the lyrics of fly Robin fly if there is a

lyrics of fly Robin fly if there is a

lyrics of fly Robin fly if there is a lot of repetition a lot of regularity

lot of repetition a lot of regularity

lot of repetition a lot of regularity then you need very little space and

then you need very little space and

then you need very little space and that’s the secret of viruses of these

that’s the secret of viruses of these

that’s the secret of viruses of these viruses anyway

viruses anyway

viruses anyway moreover symmetry can be used to

moreover symmetry can be used to

moreover symmetry can be used to understand self-organization for example

understand self-organization for example

understand self-organization for example of molecules that self organize when

of molecules that self organize when

of molecules that self organize when they are in film for example on some

they are in film for example on some

they are in film for example on some surface and then if you understand the

surface and then if you understand the

surface and then if you understand the symmetry properties you can understand

symmetry properties you can understand

symmetry properties you can understand how their behavior changes if you change

how their behavior changes if you change

how their behavior changes if you change their environment for example if you

their environment for example if you

their environment for example if you change the temperature or the liquidity

change the temperature or the liquidity

change the temperature or the liquidity of the gel or something some now and

of the gel or something some now and

of the gel or something some now and also symmetry is used to reduce the

also symmetry is used to reduce the

also symmetry is used to reduce the complexity of calculations we have seen

complexity of calculations we have seen

complexity of calculations we have seen this for calculations for energy levels

this for calculations for energy levels

this for calculations for energy levels of electrons that’s an example I talked

of electrons that’s an example I talked

of electrons that’s an example I talked about briefly but also some of my

about briefly but also some of my

about briefly but also some of my research is

research is

research is about this we use symmetry to make

about this we use symmetry to make

about this we use symmetry to make algorithms faster a lot faster actually

algorithms faster a lot faster actually

algorithms faster a lot faster actually so the way I wanted to talk about

so the way I wanted to talk about

so the way I wanted to talk about symmetry today was I wanted to discuss

symmetry today was I wanted to discuss

symmetry today was I wanted to discuss with you that they can be viewed as a

with you that they can be viewed as a

with you that they can be viewed as a way to reduce complexity and also to

way to reduce complexity and also to

way to reduce complexity and also to compress data before we finish who

compress data before we finish who

compress data before we finish who remembers the lyrics of the Australian

remembers the lyrics of the Australian

remembers the lyrics of the Australian national anthem who remembers the lyrics

national anthem who remembers the lyrics

national anthem who remembers the lyrics of fly Robin fly ah that’s a lot of

of fly Robin fly ah that’s a lot of

of fly Robin fly ah that’s a lot of people okay thank you very much

people okay thank you very much

people okay thank you very much [Applause]