Synopsis
How can forest fires and avalanches be understood by studying piles of grains of rice? How are stock market fluctuations related to magnetic vortices? And, most importantly, just exactly how can a Dyson washing machine help in predicting the height of the Danube? In this talk Simon Banks will explain the connections between these apparently disparate phenomena, introducing the remarkable concepts underpinning critical phenomena, self-organization and universality. Along the way he will explain why static sounds white but Vivaldi sounds pink as well as briefly discussing the fundamental role played by M&Ms candy in the field of statistical physics.
Venue and Contact
UCL
Department of Chemistry
University College London
20 Gordon Street
London, WC1H 0AJ
Please click here for a location map.
The lecture will be preceded by tea/coffee in the Nyholm room and followed by a Mixer in the Nyholm Room.
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Additional Info
Speaker
Simon Banks
University College London