Talk Archives

What do you see when you look at the night sky? If you are Dr. Howell and his team, you discover a supernova within hours of its explosion (a rare feat) and use it to help measure the history of the expansion of the universe and the dark energy causing it to accelerate. Explore supernovas, dark energy, and zombie stars with Dr. Howell, and hear how learning more about these phenomena helps us understand our universe.

How did humans come to have the best eyesight of any living mammal? Dr. Kirk explains how his research related to the evolution of primate sensory systems helps us understand human visual adaptations in the larger context of primate evolution.

Imagine yourself as a scientist visiting a research site on the moon for the first time, using new ways to understand the unexplored territory around you. Dr. Helper shares the training of astronauts to do geological field work, and of work with NASA roboticists at a large Canadian impact crater to test the use of robots as an aid to human planetary exploration.

Our memories are the essence of who we are. But our memories are not merely a record of the past, rather our memories are a guide to both the present and the future. Dr. Alison Preston explores how the human brain builds memories that can be used to anticipate future events.

Professor Parmesan invites you to look at what current impacts of rapid climate change has on wildlife, and explores innovative solutions to animal and plant conservation in the 21st century.

Dr. Julia Clarke brings the study of dinosaurs to life and explore questions of where birds fit in the paleontological record. Clarke will present recent research and discoveries that enable scientists to paint a vibrant picture of what these animals looked like, compare them with living ancestors, and explain how everything you knew about dinosaurs may be wrong.

With Your Inner Fish, Professor Neil Shubin tells the story of evolution by tracing the organs of the human body back millions of years, long before the first creatures walked the earth. By examining fossils and DNA, Shubin shows us that our hands actually resemble fish fins, our head is organized like that of a long-extinct jawless fish, and major parts of our genome look and function like those of worms and bacteria.

Thanks to cutting edge technology, solar cells could soon be produced more cheaply using nanoparticle “inks” that allow them to be printed like newspaper or painted onto the sides of buildings or rooftops to absorb electricity-producing sunlight. Professor Korgel discusses how nanomaterials can help enable the creation of exciting new devices and practices.

Professor Stone shares his insight into his research with machine learning, touch on advances with artificial intelligence and his real world successes with robots playing soccer. Professor Stone’s robot soccer team won the 2010 U.S. open RoboCup competition.

Mark Moffett, a.k.a. Dr. Bugs, describes his adventures around the world with marauder ants, army ants, weaver ants, slavery ants, leaf-cutter ants, and invasive ants, combined with detailed science about the parallels between ant societies and human bodies, minds, and societies.