Check out our review @angew_chem on ‘organic biocrystallization’. We summarize strategies organisms use to control the morphological and optical properties of crystals and highlight open questions in the field onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/… @shashanka_indri @ERC_Research @bengurionu

In our latest article @NatureBiotech we show how N-storage crystals in microalgae, formed by direct molecular uptake, are used to regulate cell growth during nutrient depletion. This has important implications for understanding aquatic nitrogen cycling, marine ecology and biogeochemistry. We then manipulate this innate behavior, transforming microalgae into ‘cellular factories’ for the biosynthesis of difficult-to-crystallize materials. We show how culture conditions and crystallization inhibitors can be used to tailor the morphologies and optical properties of a range of optical crystals including xanthine and guanine. This work was funded by @ERC_Research and involved a collaboration between @bengurionu @BristolUni @CharlesUniPRG @UofMaryland @UniofOxford @cardiffuni

I’m delighted to share that I was awarded the ERC CoG. A big thank you to my amazing teams at @bengurionu and @BristolUni @BristolChem and to @ERC_Research for funding CRYST_ALGAE. Lots of other news coming soon…including new PhD and postdoc positions erc.europa.eu/news-events/ne…

A fantastic start to the inaugural Telluride meeting on Structure and Reactivity in the Ordered Solid State! The blend of talks and inspiring discussions on structure, reactivity, and dynamics was remarkable. This gathering serves as a long-awaited forum for leaders in the solid-state chemistry community, fostering collaboration, inspiring innovative ideas, and reinforcing the strength and progress of our research community.

Super excited to be in Telluride for the ‘Structures & Reactivity in the Ordered Solid State’ workshop! Was not prepared for the beauty of this place or for the sketchy landing into TEX. Thanks to @Pance_Naumov @RuncevskiLab Stephanie Lee & Pierangelo Metrangalo

Very happy to see this collaborative work out @J_A_C_S - @shashanka_indri @floriandietrix and @matteoslvlgl use in situ cryo-EM and unbiased MD simulations to reveal the ‘particle attachment’ crystallization mechanism of guanine @bengurionu pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.102…

A massive thank you to the @BlavatnikAwards, @NYASciences, @IsraelAcademy for this recognition and for all of the hard work and support of my amazing team and mentors @bengurionu @Chem_BGU

Super proud of Avital Wagner, my first PhD student, who has won the 2024 Israel Chemical Society Prize for Excellence! You are a star Avital! Congratulations 🎊🍾🎊🍾 and good luck in the postdoc! @Chem_BGU @bengurionu

Beautiful day in Boston! For those of you @Materials_MRS the PM01 symposium, “Crystal Clear” starts tomorrow morning! We have a great line up of speakers, so come on by! @LingLiPenn @DvirGur

Check out our new paper which rationalizes how molecular dopants (e.g., hypoxanthine) effect guanine crystal morphology. Dopants may be used to regulate the cross-sectional shapes of reflective biogenic crystals. @AJCruzCabeza @ChemMater @bengurionu pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs…

Congratulations to our amazing students on their prizes for excellence...so proud of you! @TLemcoff (left) - Dean's List and Summa Cum Laude (MSc) Avital Wagner (middle) - Rector prize (PhD) Noam Margalit (right) - Cum Laude (BSc) @bengurionu @Chem_BGU

Join us at #F24MRS for the PM01 Symposium: Crystal Clear—Recent Advances in Biogenic and Synthetic, Organic and Inorganic Crystallization. Fantastic invited speaker lineup confirmed. Abstract submission for talks and posters open now! Deadline: June 24. bit.ly/3UlnroT

Our comprehensive review of melanin's interactions w radiation from x-rays to NIR, led by @WanjieX, is now out. If you are into uv/γ protection, color, thermoregulation, or other functions of melanin in nature/synthetic materials, check it out! pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @ACSChemRev

Amazing opportunities for ambitious postdocs in Israel - check it out! I would be happy to host biologists, bio-chemists and chemists on some very exciting projects in my lab! As an Azrieli Faculty Fellow alumni, I can't speak highly enough of this organization! It would be much more than a 'normal' postdoc. Reach out for more info! @azrielifdn @PostdocIsrael @postdociot benjaminpalmerlab.com/

Fantastic meeting Jon, thank you! It was very exciting to hear about some of the new directions for @CGD_ACS.

Congratulations Ehud!🎊🎊🎊🎊

Great opportunity to publish your latest research on crystal growth and simultaneously recognize Mike Ward’s amazing contribution to organic solid state chemistry

Check this paper out! Very very cool! Congrats Pance and all involved

Happy to have joined Crystal Growth & Design @CGD_ACS as a Topic Editor working on biomineralization with a special interest in biogenic molecular crystals. If you have an exciting paper then please submit! @jonathan_steed @AmerChemSociety

Happy to share our first paper of 2024 - a proof of concept showing structure determination of biogenic crystals from 3D Electron Diffraction pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @CGD_ACS @ACSPublications Avital Wagner @NoamPinsk @LauraSamperisi