Ninham, Barry
Description
D’Arcy Thompson in On Growth and Form tells us that the early founders of
the cell theory of biology, and the physiologists believed that progress in their sciences
depended critically on our knowledge of molecular forces. The hubris of a new science
that followed the application of X-rays and other techniques to the structure of proteins, the focus on DNA, transport in neurophysiology and ion pumps is understandable. In that progress, the environment, molecular forces and lipids played no...[Show more] role.
Structure and Form took a giant, unifying step forward in the recognition of a key role
for hyperbolic (non Euclidean, bicontinuous) geometries, from the self assembly of
lipids, surfactants and proteins; to nanostructure in inorganic and solid state chemistry
generally.
But the complementary concepts of Function and Growth that depend on molecular
forces remained poor cousins. The reasons are becoming clear. Changes in the foundations of colloid and physical science took place over the last 70 years since the theory
of Deryaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek took center stage.
A number of related advances occurred.
The first is in the conceptualisation and quantification, and understanding of recognition built into Lifshitz theory, its many body, temperature and frequecy dependencies.
The second lay in the quantification of Hofmeister (specific ion) effects. These, due to
dispersion and related hydration forces, had been inaccessible to classical theories of
electrolytes and molecular forces. This defect rendered theory impotent for prediction.
The third has to do with the startling recognition that dissolved atmospheric gas, at a
molecular level has qualitative effects which have been ignored.
Also ion specific, the effects are ubiquitous and range over enzyme activities to protein structure, catalysis and emulsion stability – “Hydrophobic interactions” apparently
disappear when gas is removed.
The fourth is a new “non- Hofmeister” universal ion specificity that occurs for bubble bubble interactions. Inhomogeneity in temperature between bubbles and solvent
can be used to catalyse high temperature reactions at low temperatures. These so far
inexplicable effects open up other new technologies unimagined., in e.g., desalination,
water purification and sterilisation and others.
In other words the classical theories of physical chemistry that inform our intuition
had become rigid and inhibiting to progress. Application of fundamentally wrong theories of molecular forces based on electrostatic forces to many areas of biology like has
produced an unhappy muddle.
An account is given of these complexities that are missing from classical theories of
physical chemistry. Essentially although the Greeks told us that the elements were
water, earth, fire and air, we forgot the last two.
