FSU Department of Physics to showcase research to Tallahassee community at Circus of Physics

Florida State University’s Department of Physics will host its Circus of Physics event on Saturday, highlighting for a public audience the impact physics has on everyday life as well as the wide array of research conducted by FSU scientists.

The event, which occurs every two years, is free and open to the public. Its open-house-style programming includes shows in the Pat Thomas Planetarium, hands-on experiments, live research presentations by FSU scientists, guided laboratory tours and more.

Circus of Physics will take place:

SATURDAY, APRIL 5
11 A.M. – 4 P.M.
KEEN BUILDING, 77 CHIEFTAIN WAY
RICHARDS BUILDING, 1055 ATOMIC WAY
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
TALLAHASSEE, FLA.

“My favorite part of the Circus is when we see children asking the real hard questions by engaging with the many scientific demonstrations and presentations we have,” said Fernando Febres Cordero, professor of physics and lead event organizer. “It shows how deeply curious young minds are, and we — all of the organizers, volunteers and participants — hope the event inspires them to become the scientists of the future!”

Physics is an inherently interdisciplinary and collaborative field and, to reflect that, the event’s presentations include a live demonstration of a volcanic eruption by Emily Stewart, an assistant professor of geology in FSU’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science. Another of the event’s five presentations, “Superconductivity: Resistance is Futile,” will be delivered jointly by assistant professors of physics He Zhao and Zhengguang Lu.

“Our talk will showcase one of the most exciting discoveries in condensed matter physics: superconductors, or materials that expel magnetic fields and do not exhibit electrical resistance once cooled below certain temperatures” Lu said. “This demonstration is a unique opportunity for attendees, as quantum mechanics usually occur at a scale too microscopic to see with the human eye. Additionally, we will discuss how superconductors can and already have changed daily life, with real-world applications ranging from MRI machines to superconducting magnetic levitation trains.”

During the event, the John D. Fox Superconducting Linear Accelerator Laboratory and Condensed Matter Laboratories will host guided tours. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the Fox lab and recreate the nuclear reactions that occur at the heart of stars. The Condensed Matter Laboratories will also be open for attendees to experience nanotechnology, superconductivity and biophysics, and participants will even be able to touch atoms.

“Universities are where the generation and dissemination of knowledge takes place,” Febres Cordero said. “They are where all questions can be asked and where we construct paths to find answers. With this open house event, we hope to highlight the importance of the work done at FSU and the impact it has in our local community, state and beyond.”

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit physics.fsu.edu/events-seminars/open-house. To learn more about research conducted in the Department of Physics, visit physics.fsu.edu.