Please see below for information on all the exhibitors taking part in Physics at Work this year.
Why do things fall apart?
You are probably familiar with the term ‘forensic science’ in the detection of crime, looking at items such as fingerprints, DNA evidence and footprints.
The word ‘forensic’ means ‘belonging to a court of law’, and in this exhibit you will see some of the work of physicists and engineers in examining the evidence after accidents where structures or equipment have broken. After a catastrophe such as an aeroplane or rail crash, we always want to know whether there was a structural failure, and if so, why, so as to prevent it from happening again.
We can examine the design and decide whether the calculations were done correctly, to see whether the design was good enough. There are International Standards that must be met for the design and construction of safety-critical items such as pressure vessels. The item must have been built according to the specification, and we would examine the evidence to decide whether the conditions had been met.
Chemical analysis of the matter can show us whether the correct material was used in making the item. Examination of the material under a microscope can show us whether the material was in the correct condition, or whether it had been mistreated either before manufacture or afterwards.
The broken surfaces contain a lot of clues. We can see, often with the naked eye, in which direction the crack was running, and where it started from. Examination under a microscope can tell us what sort of fracture it was, which further helps us to decide what went wrong.
Destructive tests, in which we break pieces of the material and measure the forces needed to break them, will give us another vital piece of information about the failure.
Finally we can put all the evidence together and decide:
- Was the design good enough for the service?
- Was it built correctly and from the right materials? Was it misused?
Or
- Was there an unusual event?
Listening to colours and smelling with light
In the NanoPhotonics Centre, we use light and gold particles one thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair to explore physics at a molecular level. With a science trick called plasmonics, we can confine light exactly where we need it. This helps us to see single molecules wiggle, create colourful displays, and build tiny electronic switches.
You might be surprised to learn that you’ve seen and used plasmonic structures before. Stained glass windows often get their bright colours from tiny pieces of metal embedded in the glass and COVID lateral flow tests make use of gold nanoparticles.
At our exhibit we’ll take you from simple demonstrations of how light and matter interact, through to the kinds of real-world applications we work on in the lab. You’ll see fluorescence and waveguiding in action, get hands-on with gold nanoparticles, and discover how their tiny size, on the same scale as visible light, transforms colour. You’ll learn how colour can be structural, meaning it is created by the way light scatters from nanoscale features, instead of from pigments.
We’ll put these ideas together to explain how we use gold nanostructures to squeeze light into tiny gaps to uncover what molecules are really doing at the smallest scales, and how we can start to control their behaviour. Along the way you’ll find that some of the same physics shows up in surprising places, including experiments that can be done in your kitchen.
By learning to manipulate light and matter in plasmonic structures, we can turn fundamental science into practical tools. Nanophotonics has many applications, from sensors for healthcare, new sustainable materials, nanopixels for next-generation displays and light-based components that could power the computers of tomorrow.
The National Space Academy
We are a not-for-profit organisation focused on using inspirational contexts from across space science to achieve the following:
- To help boost student attainment by students in school level qualifications in science and mathematics - through our masterclass and full-time education programmes
- To support teachers through our CPD training programmes which focus on giving them new effective and affordable activities, methodologies and resources to add to their existing “teacher toolkits”
- To support students in navigating their way into potential career progression routes into space and wider science and engineering career pathways – through our masterclasses, Careers Conferences and other events
We work towards the above goals by harnessing the expertise of our core team and current space scientists and engineers who work with us with our National “Lead Educator” network – made up of outstanding current science teachers who are still teaching in their own schools and colleges and who are seconded to work with us to develop and deliver our programmes alongside our core team.
We are not about "space edutainment" – we are about "space for core science education".
Theory of Condensed Matter (TCM) Research Group
- A glimpse into theoretical condensed-matter physics research
What does TCM do?
We study the phases of matter that arise when many particles are bound together by forces of some kind. This is the case for the solids and liquids we see every day, from kitchen salt to iron to glass, that are made of atoms, bind by electromagnetic forces. We also explore what happens far from everyday conditions, for example when it’s very cold or at large pressures, where matter can take very unusual forms.
As theorists we use mathematics to describe nature. In our case, we apply the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics to discover and predict the properties of matter, at different levels of complexity. First, we formulate mathematical models that can predict isolated physical phenomena, that is small bits of nature that our experimental colleagues can observe in controlled experiments. Then, we create models for more realistic situations, where different phenomena occur together, that are useful to design technological devices. Apart from pen and paper calculations, we also often write computer programs to solve our equations and perform simulations.
What will visitors see at your exhibit?
We will show some examples of physical theories and what they can predict.
What physics is used?
We heavily rely on quantum physics, electromagnetism and statistical physics (a generalization of thermodynamics).
Why is it useful?
Condensed matter theory pushes the boundaries of what we understand about matter, that makes up our world, our universe, ourselves! Discoveries in this field directly drive technological innovation: by expanding the realm of how we can control matter, we can invent new technologies for example to manipulate energy and information, that in turn make possible new discoveries. History confirms this, as condensed matter physics has given rise to the transistor, the building block of electronics, to lasers, used in printers or barcode scanners, to liquid crystal displays and to MRI scanners used in hospitals, but these are only few examples.
What does the Astrophysics Research Group do?
We work in the Galaxy Formation and Evolution group in Kavli Institute (KICC), specifically focusing on the work with James Webb Space Telescope. We are part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), the largest group in the world focusing on galaxies, as well as many other different teams across the world. Our main focus is to study how galaxies were formed, evolve and die across the Cosmic time.
What will you see in this exhibit?
The visitors of our exhibit will participate in our outreach talk about JWST (how it works, why we use it, what we can see with it) and about the different types of instruments - imaging and spectroscopy. We will then explain the importance of spectroscopy and show a working model of a spectrograph, explaining how it works and showing emission patterns of different elements. Finally, the students will try to analyse real data of a distant galaxy from JWST/NIRSpec instrument on laptops.
What physics is used?
We will discuss the electromagnetic spectrum of light, spectroscopy, cosmological redshift and simple data analysis.
Why is it useful?
Students will learn broadly about extragalactic astronomy, connecting simple physics concepts to the life of galaxies. A secondary goal, using simple concepts to explain large questions about the Universe in a friendly way will help students create a positive relationship with science.
https://jades-survey.github.io/
‘It’s All Science to Me!’
To celebrate 125 years of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), 150 years of the SI (international measurement system) and International Year of Quantum, we will showcase seven brilliant interactives that explain the fundamental SI Base Units of measurement that underpin every aspect of 21st century science, engineering, innovation, medicine and quality of life. ‘We’ refers to measurement scientists from NPL who will also talk about their current work reducing uncertainties and increasing trust in measurement globally in areas as diverse as AI, autonomous vehicles, data security, atomic timekeeping and quantum-based measurement standards.
Leading the way in physics since 1874
The Cavendish Laboratory has an extraordinary history of discovery and innovation in physics since its opening in 1874 under the direction of James Clerk Maxwell, the University’s first Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics. Up to that time, there was no formal teaching of experimental physics in the University.
The outstanding experimental contributions of Isaac Newton, Thomas Young and George Gabriel Stokes were all carried out in their colleges. The need for the practical training of scientists and engineers was emphasised by the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the requirements of an industrial society.
The Natural Science Tripos was established in 1851 but neither physics or natural philosophy were included. It was only in 1873 that physics was included in the NST, two years after the arrival of Maxwell.
Biography
Hrvoje Jasak has a first degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Zagreb (1992), and a PhD in CFD from Imperial College London, with Prof. A.D. Gosman (1993-1996). He was a Senior Development Engineer at CD-adapco (now Siemens PLM) (1996-2000), Technical Director at Nabla Ltd (2000-2006), and has worked on new generation software at Ansys-Fluent Inc. (2000-2008).
Hrvoje is one of the two original co-authors of OpenFOAM, Chair of the OpenFOAM Numerics Technical Committee and a member of OpenFOAM Governance Steering Committee.
Research
His research interests are on numerical simulation methods, mathematical modelling of continuum phenomena and numerical mathematics, numerical modelling in multi-phase and free surface flows, naval hydrodynamics and wave modelling, dynamic mesh handling, error estimation, mesh adaptivity and practical software development. He is particularly experienced in numerical modelling of complex heat and mass transfer systems and multi-physics applications.
Hrvoje is a professional programmer with 25 years of experience in C++ and object-oriented software design, high performance computing, linear algebra on HPC platforms and related topics. In his career he has managed large software projects and wrote approx. 1 million lines of C++ source code.
Undergraduate study at the game-changing home of physics
Electrodynamics. Black holes. Nanotechnology. Quantum computing. Whatever sparks your curiosity, the Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, is one of the most exciting places to study for your physics degree.
Physics at undergraduate level at Cambridge is a little different.
Offered through the Natural Sciences Tripos in conjunction with other physical and biological sciences, this collaboration across disciplines breaks down rigid boundaries around thinking and research, and enables the cross-pollination of ideas for a far broader, more ambitious vision.
Our interdisciplinary approach gives you the freedom to let your curiosity lead the way, while being part of a Collegiate, structured environment where you will be given support and direction, rubbing shoulders with an actively engaged community of trailblazers who are extending the frontiers of physics.
Undergraduate | Cavendish Laboratory Department of Physics
Future apprentices
Thinking about what to do after you leave school?
If you are 16 years or older, insatiably curious about science and excited by the prospect of on-the-job training at the place of pioneering physics, then an apprenticeship offers an exciting opportunity to earn while you learn.
Or maybe you already work at the University and want to gain new skills or change roles. An apprenticeship at the Cavendish Laboratory could be the right path for you as you develop your rewarding career in physics.
Apprenticeships | Cavendish Laboratory Department of Physics
Physics at work 2025 – Materials Science and the excitement of temperature
Look around, everything in the world is made of a material. But for man-made objects, who decided what materials should be used, and how did they know that their choice would be fit for purpose. Welcome to Materials Science – a multidisciplinary subject that is critical to all modern technologies and that combines physics, chemistry and engineering.
In this interactive session, we will show you some of the ideas that underpin Materials Science and give you the opportunity to see for yourself just how big an effect temperature can have on the way a material behaves.
These changes in behaviour are all linked to the arrangements of the atoms within the material. Understanding how atoms interact with one another is central to controlling and enhancing material properties. These ideas and the experiments you’ll perform will help to explain why blacksmiths heat and cool steel whilst shaping it and why NASA uses special metallic wheels on its extraterrestrial rovers!
What does AWE Nuclear Security Technologies do?
For 75 years, we have proudly played a role of critical national importance: helping deliver the UK’s nuclear deterrent. Our mission is to design and manufacture warhead and provide nuclear services to meet the needs of defence. We also work with the Government to protect our country from radiological and nuclear threats, provide advise on a variety of national security issues and monitor the Earth for nuclear testing.
What will visitors see at your exhibit?
We will give an overview of what AWE is, it's mission and a small glimpse into the work we do. Visitors will see and participate in real time demonstration of radiation detection equipment comparable to real-world border control.
What physics is used?
The fundamental properties of radiation and it's different forms will be discussed. By understanding radiation, we can identify and measure its unique signature using instruments despite being invisible to the eye.
Why is it useful?
Radiation is all around us. In order to be safe around it or to counter against it, understanding radiation is the first step. Also, with facilities to detect it, we can advise and protect people from its harmful effects.
Ozone Measurements in the Antarctic
Ozone is a gas consisting of three oxygen atoms and it is formed by the action of sunlight on normal oxygen. When ozone is found near the surface of the earth (such as in smog formed from car exhausts) it is a noxious substance. Much higher in the atmosphere, the ozone layer protects us from the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation.
BAS scientists discovered the Antarctic ozone hole over thirty years ago and continue to study its annual formation and disappearance. The “Hole” varies in size and duration from year to year, depending on the “weather” in the upper atmosphere. The 2019 hole will be nearing its deepest as Physics at Work takes place - what will we see? Some ozone depletion is seen over the Arctic during the spring, and whilst it can be severe, as it was this year, no major ozone hole has so far formed there.
The physics that we will be looking at is optics which are found inside the instrument we use in Antarctica to measure ozone and how optics can explain how we focus light using lenses, reflect light using mirrors and split up light into a spectrum using prisms.
Some topics to think about before coming to the exhibition:
- Differences between the Antarctic and Arctic.
- Many environmental changes will take place over tens of years, but the measuring instruments may only operate over a few years. How can we tell if or when there has been a significant change in what we are measuring?
Further Reading
What does STEM On Track do?
STEM On Track is a national education programme that uses motorsport as a platform to inspire and develop the next generation of engineers, designers, marketeers and race drivers. Our hands-on approach brings STEM to life through the design, build and racing of real go-karts, all built by students themselves. The programme is supported by leading organisations including Alpine F1 Team and engages hundreds of students across the UK.
What will visitors see at your exhibit?
At our exhibit, visitors will take part in a Pit-Stop Challenge — a hands-on, team-based activity that tests how quickly they can fit all four tyres to a real go-kart using only hand tools. Working in teams of 3, 4, 5+ participants, students will explore how time and efficiency are affected by changes in team size. They’ll compare results to mathematical models and reflect on the real-world limiting factors that affect performance; both physical and human.
What physics is used?
- Mechanics – forces, torque, leverage and friction when tightening or loosening wheel nuts
- Inverse proportion – exploring how increasing team members affects task completion time
- Diminishing returns – understanding when extra team members stop improving performance
- Rotational motion – wheel behaviour and hub alignment
- Energy transfer – through the use of manual tools and body mechanics
Why is it useful?
This exhibit links abstract physics and maths concepts directly to real-world mechanical engineering. It encourages students to think critically, collaborate in teams, and analyse real performance data. The experience reflects the real processes used in motorsport, manufacturing, and industry — showing students how STEM applies in exciting, practical careers. It also highlights the balance between theory and real-world problem-solving — where people, tools, and time interact in dynamic ways.
Links
Programme Summary
STEM On Track is a year-long STEM programme where students build a real Racing Kart, learn the applied science, engineering, and maths behind it, and then race it at our National Finals. Everything is guided by an online learning platform – so it’s easy to implement, highly engaging, and has genuine legacy impact.
Quick Links:
90-Second Explainer Video
Race Day Video
Download Prospectus
Teacher Testimonials – 1, 2, 3
Scatter!
In 2012, CERN announced the discovery of the Higgs boson produced in high energy proton collisions in the Large Hadron Collider. Ultra-high energy proton-proton collisions like these reveal interactions that were prevalent soon after the creation of the Universe. Studying these interactions requires highly sophisticated apparatus that allows us to measure the tracks of individual particles that are invisible to the naked eye.
In this session we will explore some ways of detecting in the lab particles like the ones that will be detected by the LHC experiments. Naturally occurring high energy particles constantly bombard the Earth and we will demonstrate how we can detect these “in front of your very eyes”. We call these particles from beyond the Earth “cosmic rays”.
The energies of cosmic ray particles span an enormous range and the wide variety of particle energies reflects the wide variety of sources.
Almost 90% of cosmic ray particles are protons, about 9% are helium nuclei and about 1% are electrons. They are able to travel at close to the speed of light from their distant sources to the Earth because of the low density of matter in interstellar space.
But when cosmic ray particles reach the Earth the atmosphere appears like a solid wall to them and they immediately collide with molecules to produce a cascade of lighter particles 10km above our heads. Some of these new particles, created from the energy of the incoming cosmic ray, are of a type we call muons.
Muons are special because they do not interact strongly with the atmosphere and therefore we would expect them to reach the surface of the Earth where we will detect them. However, they are unstable and decay after about 2 microseconds when not moving. The muons that we detect are travelling at typically 0.9998 times the speed of light; it is only by invoking Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity for fast moving objects that we can explain how the muons are able to reach the ground before they decay.
At CERN we use very large, very fast detectors capable of recording the paths of thousands of particles 40 million times per second. Nearly all particle detectors work by detecting the very weak disturbances to the surrounding atoms as the high energy charged particles pass through. In this session you will see how we can exploit these effects to detect cosmic ray muons and the particles produced in naturally occurring radioactive decays in two different detectors.
You will see cosmic ray muons being detected in a spark chamber where the path of the muon is revealed by sparks that jump between metal plates, arranged in a stack, at very high voltage. You will also see the paths of lower energy particles produced in radioactive decays revealed as trails of droplets in our cloud chamber.
Our research focuses on the optical and electronic properties of emerging semiconductors for low-cost, transformative electronics applications including photovoltaics for energy, LEDs for lighting and communications, and X-ray detectors for medical imaging. We use optical spectroscopy to understand material and device photophysics on a range of length and time scales, and relate these characteristics directly to local chemical, structural and morphological properties through other types of microscopy. This provides a unique platform to discover new semiconducting materials, unveil power loss mechanisms in devices, guide innovative device designs, and push device performance to the limits. Our developed devices and operando imaging approaches are applicable to a range of fields including energy materials, medical imaging and biological systems.
Visitors to our exhibit will be immersed in the world of optoelectronics through discussion with our experts, cutting edge examples, and building their very own berry solar cell device.
Polymers, the materials of life
What does BSS do?
Our group studies life (aspects of biology) using physics and physical methods. One aspect of life is related to the materials used by cells and organisms. Many of these materials are long-chain molecules, i.e. polymers. There is a rich area of physics, "polymer physics" devoted to understanding the fundamental properties of polymers.
What will visitors see at your exhibit?
This exhibit will feature a lot of experiments, demonstrating the amazing range of polymer behaviours. We will melt, freeze, shatter and pull polymer materials, and discuss how these physical properties come to have useful functions in life.
What physics is used?
In the exhibit, we will have simple tools, and very hands-on experiments. In the lab, we use a variety of very advanced instruments, many based on optics, often unique and built specifically for particular aspects of research. We also develop theory to explain and interpret the experiments.
Why is it useful?
Biology is extremely complicated, and only some aspects are currently well understood. There are a lot of very open questions that require physics approaches, be they conceptual or practical.
https://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/research/research-themes/physics-of-life/
Curious Physics – Problem Solving
Expect the unexpected, predict the unpredictable. Physics is the science which helps us to understand everything around us, from the tiniest particles through to the infinite (or not) Universe.
Fundamentally, physicists are problem solvers! When presented with a puzzle, we use the skills we have practised to solve a huge variety of problems, from building more efficient solar panels to solve the world's energy crisis, to the latest mobile devices that use up some of that energy. Being an expert problem solver allows us to approach curious problems and explain the unexpected or predict the unpredictable.
In our talk, we will demonstrate to you how by simply applying Physics you already know from school, you can solve some seemingly crazy problems. For example, this “gravity-defying” table, the Mould Effect (https://youtu.be/YZ1-4DVLSZ0 ), when a string of beads seems to jump out of a glass, and the Magnus Effect (https://youtu.be/2OSrvzNW9FE ) - the Physics that David Beckham used to “bend it like Beckham”.
Being able to explain these questions by applying your physics knowledge isn’t always easy. However, it becomes easier the more problems you solve, and to become an expert problem solver takes practice. It is a bit like training for a marathon, do a little bit of training every day and you will succeed. Do a little bit of problem-solving every day, and you will be able to explain these amazing effects!
Isaacphysics.org (https://isaacphysics.org ) is here to help! We have thousands of FREE physics problems of varying difficulties to take you from your GCSE all the way through to university. Working on these problems will help you on your journey to mastering physics. Work through our standard problems first and then have a go at our extraordinary problems on rainbows, tennis or chain fountains.
Remember that, as with any training, some days will be harder than others, it is OK to get the answer wrong the first time around (in fact we actually encourage it). All physicists get things wrong, making mistakes is how big discoveries are made and Nobel prizes won. The more you put into physics, the more surprises and rewards it will give in return.
Physics is real, relevant and remarkable!
Practice your problem solving skills by answering A Misbehaving Student (https://isaacphysics.org/questions/misbehaving_student ) on isaacphysics.org. A good way to start looking at all Physics problems is to:
- Look at the problem and find the goal of the problem: Will the student break the table?
- Draw a diagram of the situation: in this case, you will want to draw the forces acting on each object; the table top, the student, and the table legs. And don’t forget to label ALL the forces on your diagram!
- Identify the relevant physics concepts and useful equations, and what we can neglect: Is the table in equilibrium? Do Newton’s laws of gravity apply? Do we need to consider Hooke’s Law? Do we need to consider moments?
- Work out the solution: work logically through the problem writing down each step, otherwise it is very easy to make mistakes. Even the most experienced physicists do!
- Now check your working: do the units match? Does the result seem reasonable? What would happen if the student were 100 kg?
- Correct? Sit back and enjoy the satisfaction of having solved a problem!
Further Reading
Tuesday 16 September
What will visitors see at your exhibit? We will briefly talk about what machine learning is and how models are trained. You will get the chance to try out a model which detects emotions, before moving on to creating your own machine learning models.
Why is it useful? Machine learning is useful because it allows computers to learn from examples and make decisions without being explicitly programmed for every situation. This has many real-world applications, such as:
- Healthcare: Helping doctors detect diseases from medical images.
- Accessibility: Assisting people with disabilities through voice or image recognition.
- Recommendation systems: Suggesting movies, music, or games based on your preferences.
An example machine learning model.
Wednesday 17 September
What does your group do? The AFAR Lab’s research interests are in the areas of affective computing and social signal processing that lie at the crossroads of multiple disciplines including, computer vision, signal processing, machine learning, multimodal interaction, and human-robot interaction.
What will visitors see at your exhibit? You will see a Nao robot, which is a socially interactive humanoid robot that is used extensively in scientific research. For example, Nao robots were used to teach autistic children in a UK school; some of the children found the childlike, expressive robots more relatable than adults. In a broader context, Nao robots have been used by numerous British schools to introduce children to robots and the robotics industry.
What physics is used? The physics involved includes principles from mechanics, kinematics, and control theory. Additionally, acoustic physics underlies the robot’s audio sensing and speech output systems.
Why is it useful? Understanding and applying these physical principles allows the robot to move safely, interact naturally, and adapt to human environments. In research, these capabilities are important for developing and testing socially assistive technologies that can support users in education, therapy, and daily life, particularly in sensitive settings such as autism support or elderly care.
Nida, a PhD student at the AFAR Lab with the Nao Robot.
Thursday 18 September
What does your group do? In the BrainTwin group we study the effectiveness of digital therapies on sleep and mental health. We use biophysiological data from wearable devices to continuously monitor and assess sleep or mental status.
What will visitors see at your exhibit? During this event we will discuss our work on music therapy for insomnia and talk therapy for stress. Participants will be invited to wear an EEG headset (or observe a team member wearing one), and listen to the music generated by the machine learning model. You’ll be able to see live EEG waveforms along with parameters which measure the headset wearer’s sleepiness, to see how therapeutic AI generated music can make you feel sleepy.
Members of the BrainTwin research project at the Cambridge Festival.
Bring physics to life at the Cavendish Laboratory
Our range of free events and programmes taking place throughout the year are designed to give you a taste of the trailblazing research happening at the Department of Physics – and inspire the next generation to follow in the footsteps of our pioneering physicists.
What does Domino do?
Domino use a printing process called continuous ink-jet printing to mark and label a vast range of products, varying from the eggs you eat for breakfast, to the numbers printed on your winning scratch card. Virtually everything manufactured today had been coded, labelled or marked before reaching you – the consumer.
What will you see at the Domino exhibit?
Our latest AX350i continuous ink-jet:
So what physics is used in continuous ink-jet printing?
- High-speed electronics
- Image processing
- Pneumatic systems & fluid dynamics
- Electromagnetic motors
- Electron deflection in high-strength electric fields
- Piezoelectric effect
- Wireless communications
- Faraday cages
Why is it useful?
Domino was founded in Cambridge in 1978. Not long afterwards EU legislation was introduced requiring all food products to be marked with a best before date. Continuous ink-jet printing provided a perfect solution, as it is fast and doesn’t involve contact between the printer and the product. So next time you go to the supermarket, have a look at how many items have probably been printed using a Domino print-head!
Further Reading
What does MathWorks do?
MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on its products to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, development and learning.
What will you see at the MathWorks exhibit?
We will discuss the physics behind Mars exploration. Students will gain an insight into how an understanding of basic physics concepts can be built upon to provide many of the technologies we rely on today, and the application of software in the development of those technologies.
What physics is used?
The principles of feedback control loops for an everyday example of steering a car, which are then applied to a more complex systems such as a helicopter.
Why is it useful?
The link between a balancing cardboard tube and the launching of rockets, and the software, modelling, and simulations which allowed them to be designed and to behave as intended is a highly important workflow in industry. The general problem-solving techniques employed by physicists in a variety of professions, such as software engineering, highlight the exciting range of career opportunities available to those with a physics education. Most importantly, we hope that the students find these wide-ranging discussions of physics and its application to be as interesting as we do.
What does Nokia Bell Labs do?
For the past 100 years, Bell Labs has turned imagination into real-world innovations that have transformed communication, computing, and connectivity. Our researchers pioneered breakthroughs like the transistor, lasers, and digital communications, changing everyday life. Today, as Nokia’s industrial research lab, we continue to innovate responsibly, creating sustainable technologies with meaningful impact on society.
What will you see at the Nokia Bell Labs demo?
We will discuss the biological inspiration underpinning core advances in artificial intelligence today, and students will be introduced to an experiential learning paradigm called “reinforcement learning”. We will explore how machines can be taught to interact with the physical world.
What physics is used?
Reinforcement learning has strong links with control theory, which is used to analyze and regulate dynamical systems.
Why is it useful?
Reinforcement learning is has applications in many decision making systems, for example, large language model training, autonomous vehicle control, and recommender systems.
Brain Imaging
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body.
Do we know everything about the Brain? Well, no.
As scientists and clinicians we continue to discover new ways at looking at the brain and brain related disorders & diseases all the time.
At the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre we have many research studies in our portfolio including those looking at all sorts of dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Huntingdon’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, addiction and psychiatric disorders to name but a few.
Despite many advances over the decades, disorders of the brain and central nervous system continue to be one of the greatest causes of disability.
In this exhibit we will talk about how the imaging modalities used at the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre are used by researchers and clinicians to understand how the brain and body works and how this information can be used in clinical situations.
Understanding high field MRI and Hybrid PET/MR in research and clinical applications of brain imaging.
From top left:
7 Tesla MRI scanner,
3 Tesla PET/MR scanner,
mid-sagittal MRI image of the human brain.
What is superconductivity?
In 1911, at Leiden University in the Netherlands, Professor Onnes was cooling down mercury with the newly discovered cryogen, liquid helium, and measuring its resistance. When the temperature reached 4.15 K [-269 °C] the electrical resistance suddenly dropped to zero. After a lot of checking, this result was found to be correct, and the effect was called superconductivity. Many other superconducting materials were discovered over the next 75 years but none of them was found to be superconducting above 23 K [-250 °C].
Discoveries made in the past 25 years have raised superconducting transition temperatures to a much higher value. Scientists at the University of Houston first synthesised a ceramic compound containing yttrium, barium, copper and oxygen, which becomes superconducting at 93 K [-180 °C]. Its chemical formula is YBa2Cu3O7 although the material sometimes loses oxygen.
Figure 1 shows the sudden disappearance of the resistivity of YBa2Cu3O7 on cooling the sample. Other ceramic compounds containing copper also give high transition temperatures. The cuprate superconductor with the highest transition temperature is HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+d, which shows superconductivity at 160 K [-110 oC] under pressure. These newer ceramic superconductors are known as High Temperature Superconductors, and are superconducting in liquid nitrogen, which is much cheaper than liquid helium - however being ceramics, like a teacup, they are brittle.
Why is superconductivity important?
If you pass a current along a normal copper wire, energy will be lost because the wire has a resistance. If the wire is a power cable this loss is significant. In fact 1.5% of the power generated in the UK is lost in transmission. This is significant but the real problem is that if you do not want your wires to melt you have to dissipate this heat. Superconductors do not have any resistance so there is no heat to dissipate; this means that you can put much more current in the same space. This property of superconductors can be exploited to increase the capacity of cables in the centre of a city, without having to dig up the road.
To make a strong electromagnet you also need a very large current in a small space, therefore, superconductors are very suitable for making electromagnets. Superconductors also have the advantage that once you have a current, they do not use any power. However, superconductors do have disadvantages. You have to cool them down to between –200°C and –269°C, and the high temperature superconductors are brittle ceramics, which means making wires from them is challenging.
Superconducting magnets are used in MRI scanners, mineral separation machines, and recently in high power compact electric motors for powering large ships.
Superconductors interact with magnetic fields in interesting ways, which allows them to be used to make very sensitive magnetic sensors, and high frequency microwave and terahertz receivers. They can also be used for very high frequency electronics and possibly for quantum computing