vDiffraction vs Climate Change Explorer

This game is a fun way to discover the world of crystals and their symmetries through diffraction. Crystals are all around us: in our environment (rocks and minerals, etc), in our bodies (sugar, bones, gallstones, etc.) and in technology (metals and alloys, silicon and quartz used for microelectronics, etc.). By successively discovering the diffraction of X-rays, neutrons and electrons, scientists in the twentieth century threw the door to the microscopic world wide open by demonstrating that crystals are made ​​up of atoms and molecules and explaining their structure. Crystals are characterised by the fact that their constituents are arranged in a highly ordered structure. This internal order and its symmetry is clearly visible in the diffraction patterns produced by any crystal. It is this symmetry which is also gives crystals their often amazing shapes, making them highly prized by rockhounds. Whether you are a senior scientist, a student, or just curious about science, vDiffraction is a serious game that will let you try your hand at crystal diffraction so that you can begin to understand how scientists identify the symmetry characteristics of a crystal. This is the first, crucial step towards understanding the atomic and molecular structure of a crystalline material, in other words what type of atoms and molecules make up the crystal and how they are organised.

At Historic Environment Scotland, understanding how changes in our climate are impacting our organisation is central to our climate action ambitions. Changes in our climate, such as the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, introduces a range of physical climate risks to our organisation. This includes risks to our people, the natural capital of our properties, our operations and our physical assets. There are further ‘transition’ climate risks introduced as society takes actions and moves towards a low-carbon economy. Understanding these risks and impacts, and adapting to them, is a key deliverable of our Climate Action Plan with work currently underway. This app lets you explore Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and how climate change is impacting some of its historic sites. The app is based on a 3D model of the city created for the Scottish Ten project, which sought to accurately record Scotland’s World Heritage sites in 3D using cutting edge technologies, to help support their conservation, management, interpretation and virtual accessibility. FEEDBACK We're always looking for feedback so please send any ideas on how we can improve the app to digitaldocumentation@hes.scot or rate us in the app store.