Colloquium: UIC Physics Faculty Research Presentations
January 22, 2020
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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Jan-Hendrik Spille
Imaging Structure and Function in the Cell Nucleus with Single Molecule Resolution
DNA – arguably the most important molecule in the world – is tightly packed in the cell nucleus. The physical mechanisms that allow complex molecular machinery to properly read out genetic information in this crowded environment are poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that collective behavior arising from weak interactions plays an important role in chromatin organization and gene expression regulation. Single molecule super resolution microscopy allows us to study these transient molecular interactions directly in living cells.
Richard Cavanaugh
"Symphony" of the vacuum: playing the standard model of particle physics and beyond
The "symphony" of the standard model particle physics is a masterpiece, elegant and self-consistent, which is being verified with great precision by the CERN Large Hadron Collider.. Yet, that "symphony" is known to be both incomplete and unnatural -- it does not contain the mysterious melodies of dark matter or the deep tones of baryogenesis, and while it does contain the beautiful notes of the Higgs Boson, it cannot naturally explain why they are so light and airy. The UIC Group for Experimental Particle Physics is leading the design and testing of unique instruments for the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment that will help answer some of today's most pressing scientific questions: what is the quantum nature of dark matter? what are the origins of baryogenesis? and, how can the electroweak sector be so light?
Russell Hemley
Hydrogen at Extremes: From Hot Superconductors to Giant Planets
Extreme pressures and temperatures produce profound effects on structure, bonding and electronic character of atoms and molecules, molding matter to make new materials. Examples include unexpected transitions between insulating and metallic phases, new superconductors and low-dimensional materials, and novel structural and superhard materials. These new materials have implications for physics and chemistry, planetary science, astrophysics, and even soft matter and biology, and the new materials being discovered may find potential applications in energy and other technologies.
Date posted
Jan 16, 2020
Date updated
Jan 16, 2020