Are Animals Particles Too? The Unresolved Mysteries of the Universe

Invertebrate model organisms are essential for scientific research, providing low-cost alternatives that help us better understand complex vertebrate systems. During this talk, we will discuss how the unique relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and its bioluminescent bacteria helps us learn more about maintaining a healthy microbiome for astronauts in microgravity conditions. Then, we will dive into a unique cnidarian model, Hydractinia, and how we can manipulate the genetics of this organism to better understand cellular regeneration.

Since the dawn of humans, people have had a penchant for throwing things: rocks, sticks, shade. You name it, someone’s probably attempted to throw it. Believe it or not, we can actually learn a lot about the world around us by throwing things at other things and observing the result. In keeping with this grand tradition, nuclear physicists at JLab throw electrons at materials to learn about the world around us in a weird game of billiards. This evening we’ll stretch and strain this analogy as far as I dare to learn what throwing subatomic particles teaches us and the rules of weird billiards.

Why did matter beat antimatter at the competition over the composition of the universe? What was the Big Bang? Is the universe finite or infinite? Can gravity and quantum mechanics be unified? What is dark matter? What is dark energy? We only know 5% of the universe. And not even very well. Come through a journey where these questions will NOT be answered, alongside some other questions we have no good answers for, and discover why and how we know that we know nothing.