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Nerdy Nook: True Tales From the Lab

Princeton PhD candidates share insights about their work: "Orangutans in the Line of Fire," "A snail-inspired way to collect microplastics" and "Battling Flow Instabilities in Fusion Energy."

Andrea DiGiorgio, PhD: "Orangutans: Life in the Line of Fire"
People who study primates note that orangutans are just "weird." Much of that weirdness allows them to survive in the very food-poor rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. But as fires burn across these major islands, will their weird adaptations be a help or a hindrance? Learn about what is likely to be the biggest fire season to date and how orangutan researchers and rescues are trying to save this species from potential extinction. 

Michael Walker, PhD Candidate: "Battling Flow Instabilities in Fusion Energy"
This talk will discuss inertial fusion energy, from its origins in nuclear weapons physics and recent success in laser ignition to ongoing efforts to master it as an abundant, carbon-free energy resource. I will briefly highlight my research using detailed computer simulations to understand and suppress instabilities and mixing during the fusion capsule implosion to improve energy yield.

Joanna Van Liew, PhD Candidate: "A snail-inspired way to collect microplastics"
Millions of pounds of tiny plastic particles (microplastics) accumulate in the Great Lakes each year, threatening freshwater ecosystems and infrastructure. What if we could use technology inspired by the motion of snails to collect microplastics at the surface of water? As some freshwater snails move, their muscular foot generates a wave that acts like a conveyor belt for nearby particles. In this talk, we will explore this unique motion and how it can be used as a powerful tool to clean our lakes. 

Presented in partnership with the Princeton University Center on Science and Technology.

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