Energy Unleashed: Sun, Earth, and the Spark of Life

The Sun is more than just a giant ball of fire—it’s a powerhouse of energy that can unleash massive storms into space, sending shockwaves toward Earth. These solar storms can paint our skies with stunning auroras, but they can also disrupt satellites, power grids, and even astronaut safety. How do these storms form? What risks do they pose to our modern world? And should we be worried about the next big one? Join us as we explore the wild world of space weather and its impact on life on Earth.

Metals like iron and nickel are known to be important in our building materials and mechanical devices, but they also play important roles in biology. In this talk, I will connect the rocks and minerals of the early Earth to the chemical reactions that were essential for life to evolve. These same chemical processes remain prevalent today, in microorganisms found across the Earth’s surface as well as within our own bodies. By leveraging how these reactions work, we can establish climate-friendly energy solutions by developing methods for sustainable and distributed fuel production.