Sun, Sea and ……Muons?

Nature can be seen as the chessboard of the gods; physics observes it and tries to discover the rules of the game. Interesting outcomes arise when the unexpected happens. The behaviour of the muon is an excellent example of this. When discovered in 1936, Issac Rabi, a Nobel laureate for Physics, commented " And these now, who ordered them?" Looking at two high-precision physics experiments (KLOE and Mu3e) Paolo will explore how muons continue to shake up established ideas, and how they reveal to us the quantum world, showing us the moves of the gods on the chessboard of the universe.

The burning of fossil fuels for energy generation has had a huge impact on the climate. Radical changes using renewable energy sources Is necessary. The solar power industry is dominated by silicon-based panels. However, high energy use during production, means alternatives need to be found. These film solar cells are an alternative. They can be less intensive to produce and have greater potential to use on a wide range of surface types. Bradley will present the science of solar energy generation, discuss state-of-the -art technologies and his current research.

Rare earth metals (REM) are vital to fuel the green revolution helping to avoid the worst effects of climate change. The deep sea is the largest habitat on Earth harbouring many of the REM needed in our everyday technology e.g. smart phones, and for the green revolution; electric car batteries. It is also home to fascinating marine life and ecosystems. Regulations for mining REM in the deep sea are currently being drawn up and contractors are ready to start exploitation for REM. Rachel will introduce you to the most intriguing realm on the planet and discuss the impact of deep sea mining.