Science Café: ‘Life, Death and the Carotenoids’ at the Dylan Thomas Centre

Nov. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Keele University’s George Truscott discusses ‘Life, Death and the Carotenoids’ at this month’s Science Café, on Wednesday, 30th November at 7.30pm.

The talk has been organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Carotenoid pigments are widespread in nature.  Without them there would be virtually no life on earth.

They are essential components of all green plants even though their colour is ‘hidden’ by the green of the chlorophylls and, of course, they also arise in many red/yellow  fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots and oranges.

They are absorbed by animals, fish and insects often leading to brightly coloured species. In photosynthesis they perform at least two, apparently contradictory, roles.

As dietary supplements they also seem to switch from exhibiting beneficial to deleterious consequences for humans.

Physical chemical techniques based on fast reaction studies will be reported and used to try to explain this ‘switch’ in behaviour and to explain other apparently unexpected dietary value of carotenoids, especially with respect to protection of the eye  against age-related macula degeneration and prostate cancer.

The Swansea Science Café offers opportunities for anyone to find out more about new, exciting and topical areas of science. Designed to be informal and entertaining, the café typically runs on the last Wednesday of every month at the Dylan Thomas Centre.

Entry is free and talks start at 7:30 pm. Contact the Centre on 01792 463980 rr visit www.dylanthomas.com for more information.

Follow the Dylan Thomas Centre on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dtcswansea

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