A Journey into the Unseen: Sleep, Space & Bubbles

Ale, Pilsner, or Nitro? Chardonnay or Champagne? Dissolved gases completely change our sensory experience due to a cascade of intertwined chemical and physical properties. In this talk, Dr Mathijssen will discuss this fizzics of pints.

Space radiation is made up of highly-energetic nuclei that are capable of passing through spacecraft shielding and causing harm to astronauts. Due to the lengthy mission duration, Mars-bound astronauts will be exposed to consequential doses of space radiation. Fred’s research focuses on understanding the effects of space radiation on the brain and behavior, and using particle radiation properties to improve cancer treatment on Earth.

I study neutrinos, fundamental particles with tiny masses and no electric charge that are sometimes called the "ghost particle." They're all around us and streaming through us all the time, but (luckily!) they rarely interact with us. While this makes them difficult to study in the lab, this same property also makes them interesting tools for understanding our universe. I will talk about some neutrino mysteries and the kinds of experiments that we are building to solve them.

All cells in our body have clocks that drive differences in cellular processes between day and night. All these clocks are synchronized by a master clock in our brain such that when our brain sleeps, our bodies do as well. What happens when we don’t? Join me for a peek into the exciting world of circadian biology and to explore the cardiovascular benefits of a good night’s sleep.