Physics encompasses nearly everything in the universe, from the smallest sub-nuclear particles to the largest scale structure, cosmology.
But instead of focusing on the current state of knowledge regarding physics, this spring’s Saturday Science lecture series will focus on the more historical aspects of physics.
The series is jointly presented by the Department of Physics and University College, both in Arts & Sciences.
The free, public lectures will be offered at 10 a.m. the first four Saturdays in March in Room 201 of Crow Hall.
The series schedule is:
• March 3: “The Modern Application of Ancient Historical Astronomical Observations.” It is widely known that Chinese and Japanese astronomers recorded the sudden and enormous brightening of a star in 1054 CE. The remnants of this star are known as the Crab nebula — perhaps the most intensively studied object outside our solar system. Michael W. Friedlander, Ph.D., professor of physics, explores how these and other ancient observations can be combined with modern measurements to aid current research.
• March 10: “From Astrolabe to Quantum Computer: Science and Computing.” In the ancient world, the abacus and the astrolabe were high-tech. Through millennia, our ability to calculate has grown exponentially. Michael C. Ogilvie, Ph.D., professor of physics, discusses what we can do with the unprecedented computing power we have now and what the future holds.
• March 17: “The Development of MRI.” The MRI technique is now a routine part of modern medicine. John S. Rigden, Ph.D., adjunct professor of physics, looks at the scientific origins of this remarkable — and expensive — procedure and how the pejorative adjective “nuclear” discreetly gets set aside.
• March 24: “Metals and Civilization.” While simple tool-making from available materials is well known in the animal kingdom, only humans have learned how to develop and shape new materials. Metals such as bronze and steel have played a particularly important role in the development of civilization. Kenneth F. Kelton, Ph.D., the Arthur Holly Compton Professor in Arts & Sciences, professor of physics and of metallurgy and materials science, focuses on the history of metals, how they are formed and how their internal structure can be manipulated to tailor them to specific purposes.
For more information, call 935-6276 or visit physics.wustl.edu.