Science Snippets
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Ever curious what goes on behind closed lab doors? Join us for short talks by MIT researchers about everything from DNA to dark matter and beyond. After each presentation, the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions of the speaker.
While all are welcome, this online event is designed for an audience of high schoolers and adults with little or no previous background in the topics. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
There will be two sessions, on Tuesday March 2 & March 9 -- join us for either or both!
Register for March 2 - Science Snippets: Small-Scale Biology with Large-Scale Impact
Register for March 9 - Science Snippets: Physics of Particles, Trains, and the Universe
Session descriptions:
March 2nd, 4:30-6:00p (register for Zoom link).
This session will feature two talks:
"RNAs are masters of their own fate"
Pradeep Natarajan, Chemical Engineering
Genes are segments of DNA in cells that are like blueprints for manufacturing different cellular components. In diseases like cancer, these blueprints are misread and result in manufacture of faulty components. A better understanding of how cells use these blueprints will help us understand how cells become cancerous and inform the design of new cancer treatments.
"How bacteria can help us solve the plastic waste problem"
Mirna Kheir Gouda, Biological Engineering
In 2019, 368 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide and this number keeps growing. Some bacteria are starting to adapt to the enormous amounts of plastic in the environment by using plastic as a food source. Scientists and engineers are thinking about new ways to take advantage of the ability of these bacteria to eat plastic to reduce plastic pollution.
March 9th, 4:30-6:00pm (register for Zoom link)
This session will feature three talks:
"Bounce, Stick, Bury: Different behaviors when tiny particles take a hit"
Ahmed A. Tiamiyu, Materials Science
When tiny particles move fast, they stick to a target. These fast-moving particles are useful in spray manufacturing for creating hard-to-make parts and fixing cracks. Real-time observations using a high-speed camera allow scientists to learn about the actual behavior of single tiny particles of well-known sizes and speeds.
"Unveiling the mysteries of our universe with quantum devices"
Edwin Pedrozo Penafiel, Research Laboratory for Electronics
"Fast Floating Trains"
Rachel Yang, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Some of the fastest trains in the world forgo traditional motors and wheels and use magnetic levitation instead. How do these maglev trains use electricity and magnetism to go twice as fast?
Sponsored by the MIT School of Engineering Communication Lab and the MIT Libraries.
- Date:
- Tuesday, March 2, 2021 Show more dates
- Time:
- 4:30pm - 6:00pm