Physics of caramel wafers, neutron scattering focuses on self-assembled materials

06/24/21 • 45 min

In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast we look at the science of three very different types of materials.

First we hear from Vanessa Hearnden , Julian Dean and Stephen Birch of the University of Sheffield, who have sent caramel wafers to prospective students interested in studying materials science and engineering. Before they eat them, the students perform a series of experiments on the wafers. The Sheffield trio explain what is learned and how the exercise has encouraged students to study in their department.

Next up is the chemist Emily Draper, who develops and characterizes self-assembled materials at the University of Glasgow. Draper has won the BTM Willis Prize for her innovative use of small angle neutron scattering to study supramolecular materials. She talks about her research and what it is like to use large science facilities such as the Institut Laue Langevin in France and the UK’s ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.

Finally, Physics World’s James Dacey is on hand to talk about an environmentally friendly acoustic material that is made from wood.

You can read more about the University of Sheffield wafer-snapping experiment in the paper “Bending bad—testing caramel wafer bars” which is free to read in Physics Education.

In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast we look at the science of three very different types of materials.

Finally, Physics World’s James Dacey is on hand to talk about an environmentally friendly acoustic material that is made from wood.

You can read more about the University of Sheffield wafer-snapping experiment in the paper “Bending bad—testing caramel wafer bars” which is free to read in Physics Education.

Previous Episode

Accelerating quantum start-ups, meet the CEO of D-Wave Systems

In just a few short years, quantum science and technology has gone from the lab to the boardroom with companies ranging from tech giants to tiny start-ups seeking to commercialize quantum devices and algorithms.

In this special Quantum Week edition of the Physics World Weekly podcast, we look at the challenges facing young companies and also hear from a firm that has been in the quantum business for over two decades.

First up are Jay Schrankler and David Awschalom who explain how the Duality start-up accelerator is nurturing new quantum science and technology businesses in the Chicago area.

Then we speak to Alan Baratz, who is president and CEO of Canada’s D-Wave Systems. He explains why his company is now focussing on providing its customers with cloud services on its quantum processors.

If you enjoy this episode, make sure to also join us for the inaugural Physics World Quantum Week. Running on 14–18 June 2021, the event showcases the latest developments in quantum science and technology. It includes a series of free-to-view webinars and a curated selection of quantum articles.

Next Episode

Physics tracks changes in English dialects, machine learning confused by COVID-19

This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features an interview with the physicist James Burridge and the linguist Tamsin Blaxter, who have teamed up to study how local dialects in England have changed during the 20th and 21st centuries. The duo has used probability and statistical physics to chart the evolution of language between two English dialect surveys – one done in the 1950s and the other done in 2016 – and they talk about the factors that change the way we speak.

This podcast also looks at some exciting developments in astronomy that have happened over the past week; and we find out why machine learning algorithms developed to diagnose COVID-19 from chest X-rays are not suitable for clinical use.