Science with Samantha

Samantha

Samantha having conversations with people she finds interesting in a wide range of different sciences. Join her in learning about new topics and developments in varying research fields. Furthermore, she loves talking about the future and philosophy. Samantha is currently an Electrical Engineering undergraduate at TU Delft and Alumna at Georgia Tech and CERN with publications under her name.

Episodes

  1. 01/16/2022

    The applications of spectroscopy for astrochemistry and astrophysics and research at the FELIX Laboratory with Assistant Professor Sandra Brünken

    This episode has been recorded in the FELIX Laboratory at Radboud University Nijmegen. To know more about FELIX: https://www.ru.nl/felix/, a 360° virtual tour of the laboratory: https://virtualtours.360totaal.nl/tour/hfml-felix. Samantha and Sandra were seated at a distance with masks on. In this episode, Samantha and Assistant Professor Sandra Brünken discussed the field of astrochemistry and astrophysics in both the lab setting and observing it in space for understanding the origin of the universe and life.  Then we went over how spectroscopy works and why it plays a big role in these fields. After that, Sandra explained why a Free Electron Laser (e.g. at the FELIX Laboratory ) is so helpful for spectroscopy experiments. After that, we delved into Sandra's previous work in Cologne, Harvard, and EPFL where she contributed to different branches of astrochemistry and her current work at FELIX with her ion trap instrument. Samantha asked Sandra some questions about current developments in the astrochemistry field such as phosphene which could indicate possible life in Venus and her Nature paper about the age of cloud-forming of sun-like stars. Finally, Samantha asked Sandra what the process would be to get access to the Free Electron Laser at FELIX and what book Sandra has read that made an impression on her. Sandra Brünken is an Assistant professor of the FELIX Laboratory at Radboud University in Nijmegen. She has made major contributions in her research fields which are astrochemistry and astrophysics with a nature publication under her name. Now she is at the Free Electron Laser Laboratory at Radboud university (FELIX) to continue her research.

  2. 10/24/2021

    Quantum field theory, string theory and the ultimate question of the unified theory for our universe with Professor Klaas Landsman

    In this information-packed episode, Samantha and Professor Klaas landsman discussed fundamental physics and interpreting the mathematical outcomes of our physical world. We discussed the classical realm versus the quantum realm, string theory, the many-worlds interpretation, the multiverse and, the problems that rise up when finding the unified theory of our universe. Furthermore, Professor Landsman explains the big challenges of bridging the gap between quantum field theory and Einstein's general relativity and why black holes are such interesting physical phenomena with their event horizon. For finding the theory of everything, Professor Landsman came to the conclusion that the fundamental problem lies in the interpretation of probability which governs quantum theory. Finally, Samantha asked Professor Landsman about the writing process between scientific text books versus books for the general audience and a book that stayed with him the most.  Professor Klaas Landsman is a Professor of Mathematical Physics at Radboud University Nijmegen and a writer of two books for the general audience: A Requiem for Newton and In All Probability. His research deal with the connection between quantum physics (Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schrödinger) and classical physics (Newton, Maxwell and, Einstein). He has recently finished a scientific textbook about black holes and has written two other textbooks on quantum mechanics.  [PS: there seems to be some distortion in the first 5 minutes. After that, the audio is all clear]

About

Samantha having conversations with people she finds interesting in a wide range of different sciences. Join her in learning about new topics and developments in varying research fields. Furthermore, she loves talking about the future and philosophy. Samantha is currently an Electrical Engineering undergraduate at TU Delft and Alumna at Georgia Tech and CERN with publications under her name.