Molecular Maya (mMaya)
"A free plugin for Autodesk Maya that lets users import, model and animate molecular structures. We leverage the power and flexibility of Maya while offering innovative, intuitive tools specialized for the challenges of molecular modelling and animation. mMaya is further enhanced by a series of 'kits' that expand its functionality and greatly streamline molecular modelling, animation, and simulation (see below)." (Clarafi)System Requirements
- Maya 2015-18 (note, 2018 is now supported)
- OSX or Windows
Clarafi gives a list of many software tools that can be used for Scientific Visualisation. I think it is all rather fabulous.
Clarafi has a showcase of great examples of animations.
Here is an example of the animation "What is a Protein" from the Protein Data Bank. I think it is the best introduction to proteins I have ever come across.
The Protein Data Bank is a source of data in XML format to use with animation software.
My cloud software project has a couple of modules that work with the Protein Data Bank.
Here is a great animation of the growth of a chicken embryo.
The most stunning scientific animation of a cell I have ever watched is Inner Life of the Cell.
"The Inner Life of a Cell is an eight-minute animation created in NewTek LightWave 3D and Adobe After Effects for Harvard biology students",
"Created by XVIVO, a scientific animation company near Hartford, CT, the animation illustrates unseen molecular mechanisms and the ones they trigger, specifically how white blood cells sense and respond to their surroundings and external stimuli."
