Two decades of transforming how we see, understand, and interact with the building blocks of life
Transforming complex structures into accessible knowledge
Imagine peering into the intricate machinery of a living cell, watching molecular machines perform their precise dances to sustain life. For twenty years, the Molecule of the Month series has provided precisely this view, transforming how students, educators, and researchers alike visualize and understand the molecular foundations of biology.
Molecule of the Month debuts as PDB archive contains ~11,000 structures 2
Featured as "NetWatch Hot Pick" by Science magazine 2
Becomes integral part of Science Olympiad protein modeling event
Website redesign with interactive JSmol views
Comprehensive education portal launched
Over 600,000 annual users accessing 240 features 2
Technical jargon minimized, complex concepts translated into natural language to serve audiences from middle school to research level 2 .
Articles organized into biologically meaningful categories creating a comprehensive exploration path for structural biology 2 .
| Category | Examples | Educational Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Protein Synthesis | Ribosomes, tRNA | Molecular machinery of gene expression |
| Enzymes | Catalase, DNA Polymerase | Biological catalysis and specificity |
| Health and Disease | Hemoglobin, Antibodies | Molecular basis of medicine |
| Biological Energy | ATP Synthase, Chlorophyll | Energy conversion processes |
| Communication | Neurotransmitters, Hormones | Cellular signaling mechanisms |
Researchers from the University of Washington created Foldit, an interactive computer game that allowed players to manipulate virtual protein structures based on spatial intuition rather than computational algorithms alone 7 .
Foldit players proved remarkably adept at protein design and structure prediction, often outperforming computational algorithms for challenging folding problems.
| Accomplishment | Scientific Significance | PDB Structures |
|---|---|---|
| 56 novel designed proteins | Demonstrated citizen scientists' capacity for biomolecular design | 6mrr, 6nuk, 6msp, 6mrs |
| New protein fold discovery | Revealed previously unknown stable protein configurations | 6nuk |
| M-PMV protease structure solution | Solved a structure that had eluded scientists for 10 years | 3sqf |
| Diels-Alder enzyme optimization | Increased catalytic activity more than 10-fold | 3u0s |
The series has become embedded in educational systems worldwide, forming an integral part of the protein modeling event at the Science Olympiad and appearing in countless classrooms from high school to graduate level 1 .
As the Molecule of the Month entered its third decade, it underwent a significant transition—2025 marked the passing of the creative torch from David S. Goodsell to Janet Iwasa, ensuring the series' continuation with fresh perspectives while maintaining its core mission 1 .
Equipping millions with the visual literacy needed to understand scientific challenges at a fundamental level.
Creating bridges between specialist knowledge and broader scientific community understanding.
"When we make science visible, we make it accessible to all."