Past Events

Abstract: Prominent among biophysical techniques is the optical trap, for which Arthur Ashkin (Bell Labs) received a Nobel Prize in 2018. Among the successes of optical traps have been direct measurements of the steps taken by biological motor proteins, such as kinesin, and by nucleic-acid enzymes, such as RNA polymerase. Optical traps facilitate studies of replication, transcription, and translation at the single-molecule level. They’ve been especially useful in mapping the free-energy landscapes of folding by small, structured RNAs.

Abstract: For the past four decades, the Space Telescope Science Institute has served as the bridge between NASA's flagship astrophysics missions and the scientific community through its role as the science operations center for Hubble, Webb, and Roman. The Hubble Space Telescope is celebrating its 35th year of operations, and continues to lead innovative new discoveries with its ultraviolet-optical capabilities and decades of high precision data.

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Future electronic and quantum devices will require near-atomically-precise nanofabrication processes, but present plasma processing methods create a variety of imperfections that limit device performance. In this talk, I will present atomic layer etching processing for materials including superconducting titanium nitride, lithium niobate, and compound semiconductors which enable etching with Angstrom-scale precision. I will also describe our efforts to validate the process improvements at the device level.

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Abstract: The modern understanding of quantum materials traces back to Felix Bloch, who first applied quantum mechanics to crystalline lat

Abstract: The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is NASA’s wide-field optical astrophysical observatory exploring the bright and time-variable sky. Since its launch in 2018, TESS has discovered over 500 confirmed exoplanets and over 6000 additional candidates await confirmation. Dozens of these planets’ atmospheres have been or soon will be explored by the Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes.

Abstract: The ocean absorbs most of the heat and about a quarter of the carbon emissions caused by human activities. These anthropogenic perturbations significantly influence the ocean circulation, with direct and critical implications for the climate system. The ocean circulation is characterized by diverse turbulence regimes that span a vast range of spatial and temporal scales.

Abstract forthcoming

Abstract: Thorne-Zytkow objects (TZOs) - stars with the outward appearance of red supergiants supported by neutron degenerate cores - are some of the most mysterious and compelling stars in the universe. Thought to be formed from the mergers of binary massive stars, they represent a completely new model for stable stellar interiors, a distinct evolutionary channel for massive binaries and compact objects, and a novel channel for producing the heavy elements that have enriched our universe.

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Abstract: Science is a human endeavor. The discovery that the Universe began abruptly 13.8 billion years ago is one of the great scientific stories of the last century. We will explore the history and empirical evidence of the Big Bang, the scientific framework that allows us to infer with considerable certainty what happened in the first moments of the Universe, the scientists that solved the puzzle of how that led to our existence, and what the future holds.

Abstract: Can a classical system of interacting particles evolving under local rules have multiple steady states that are stable to

Abstract: The planetary boundary layer (PBL), the lowest part of the atmosphere, plays a key role in regulating interactions between the land surface, clouds, and atmospheric turbulence. These interactions drive the exchange of energy, moisture, and aerosols, shaping both weather and climate. However, turbulence within the PBL adds complexity to these processes, making them challenging to understand and predict.

Abstract: Inflationary cosmology has been widely accepted for decades. Yet there are persistent debates about inflation which raise central questions in philosophy of science. Skeptics have often expressed doubt regarding whether inflation is "testable" or "falsifiable," due to the flexibility of inflationary models. This is an instance of a general question in philosophy of science: to what extent does phenomenological success support the claim that a theory gets the physics right?

Abstract: How much will Earth warm in response to increasing carbon dioxide emissions?  Climate projections are highly uncertain yet have important societal implications.  Climate models are the most effective tools for making climate projections, however, their ability to reliably project climate has been hindered primarily by challenges in representing clouds in Earth’s atmosphere.  Cold clouds composed of supercooled liquid droplets and ice crystals are particularly challenging to represent in climate models due to the large number of complex micro-s

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