Enzymes That Are Not Proteins: The Discovery of Ribozymes

Listen to HHMI President Dr. Thomas Cech discussing his Nobel Prize–winning discovery of RNA's catalytic properties. Includes animations newly created for the discussion.

19 minutes

Which Balloon Has Hydrogen?

Air is an invisible gas as are hydrogen and helium. How can you tell if a balloon contains hydrogen? Hydrogen has particsular physical and chemical properties that can be tested. Dr. Cech enlists student volunteers to show how a chemical reaction can be used to identify a substance.

5 min 55 sec

Mr. Lincoln Glows

A catalyst is a substance that greatly accelerates a chemical reaction and yet does not directly participate in the reaction and is therefore not consumed. Dr. Cech uses a penny and a beaker of acetone to illustrate how a catalyst works.

5 min 40 sec

Oxalate Catalysis

Without an appropriate catalyst some chemical reactions would be so slow as to appear not to occur at all on the human timescale. However, when catalyzed, these reactions can be very dramatic. Dr. Cech shows a very colorful reaction involving oxalate catalysis.

5 min 54 sec

On Becoming a Scientist: Dr. Thomas Cech

HHMI President Dr. Thomas Cech discusses the path he took to become a scientist and his reaction to receiving the Nobel Prize.

9 min 15 sec