The Braggs

The Braggs refer to the father-and-son scientists, William Henry Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg, who developed an important technique called X-ray crystallography. This method allows us to determine the three-dimensional structure of crystals, such as minerals and biological molecules like DNA. By analyzing how X-rays bounce off the atoms in a crystal, they can create detailed maps showing the arrangement of atoms. Their work was fundamental in understanding the molecular makeup of materials and earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915. This technique remains a cornerstone of modern chemistry and biology.