Science across scales: From Cells to Civilizations to Stars

Fusion promises nearly limitless clean energy, but the reality of building a star on Earth turns out to be extremely difficult. This talk explores the plasma state, how fusion works, and why controlling it is one of the biggest scientific challenges of our time.

Sometimes grand histories can fit inside a small glass bead. In this talk, I will take you across the Indian Ocean to Zanzibar, to show you how small archaeological traces can reveal deep social histories and vast trade networks that once connected people within and beyond Africa.

Every time a cell divides, it first has to copy its DNA, an essential process for life. Today, I’ll introduce the tiny machines that make this happen.