aaaaaaaaaa (aaaaaaaaa)'s status on Wednesday, 25-May-11 19:08:33 UTC
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@abigpony All in all, this allows you to get the 3D geometric distribution of atoms in some sample that you're looking at. In terms of applications, there are lots. The one that I'm working on has to do with uranium mine waste. Arsenic is found in the tailings ponds of these mines, but depending on whether it's octahedral or tetrahedral (when bound to oxygen atoms), it's toxic properties change (and so the environmental regulations for handling it may also change). So recap: Shoot x-rays, bounce electrons around, measure stuff, figure out molecular structure, apply data to industrial applications. Hope that makes it clearer! :)
