The Physics of Car Racing

Event Time: Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Event Location:
Vancouver Public Library - Central Branch (Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level)
Add to Calendar 2026-02-12T18:00:00 2026-02-12T19:30:00 The Physics of Car Racing Event Information: Curious about how the universe actually works? Join the experts from UBC’s Department of Physics and Astronomy to find out fun facts about everything from the Milky Way to radio waves in this new, accessible science series: How the Universe Works! All are welcome! Abstract: While car racing can appear to the general public as a parade of cars driving around tracks in circles, race drivers operating their cars at the limit are on a razor's edge, balancing and adjusting the behavior of the car with a variety of techniques that are foreign to the average road driver. At the same time, race car engineers are faced with complex compromises that generate a surprising range of solutions and performance despite the underlying principles being well understood. Using simple physics we'll take a beginner's look at race driving and the techniques used to minimize lap time, as well as the design differences between road cars and race cars, and the changes that grassroots motorsports enthusiasts must make to convert their road cars into high performance race vehicles.   Bio: Andre Marziali, P.Eng., is the director of the Engineering Physics program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and founder and chief scientific officer of Boreal Genomics. Marziali co-invented the concept of using synchronous mobility perturbations to create divergent velocity fields for selective focusing of nucleic acids. Today, Boreal Genomics continues to develop breakthrough technology for non-invasive, real-time detection and monitoring of tumor mutations. Marziali received his Bachelor of Applied Science in engineering physics from UBC and his PhD in physics from Stanford University. Andre also loves driving Ferrari’s in his spare time.   Learn More: Read this article, "Mastering the physics of racing cars": https://ubctoday.ubc.ca/stories/april-17-2020/mastering-physics-racing-cars  See him talk about car racing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYp2vvUgEqE  Event Location: Vancouver Public Library - Central Branch (Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level)

Quantum Entanglement, Exoplanets & Molecular Switches

Event Time: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Event Location:
Jack Lonsdale's Public House (127-1433 Lonsdale Avenue)
Add to Calendar 2026-02-18T18:30:00 2026-02-18T21:30:00 Quantum Entanglement, Exoplanets & Molecular Switches Event Information: Welcome to NerdNite North Vancouver branch!  Nerdnite is back with a new season of mind-blowing talks, awesome trivia and one of the city’s most unique 19+ nights out, where science gets social and curiosity takes the mic. Every Nite features three 15-minute talks from scientists, experts, and curious thinkers who can explain big ideas in plain, human language. No decoder ring required. Just real knowledge, shared easily with humour and beer. After each talk, the audience joins in a live Q&A. That’s when things heat up – questions, debates, surprising tangents and the occasional piece of scientific gear or space rock passed around the room. Our featured talks this month are in the fields of Astrophysics, Materials Science and Quantum Physics. (Note: Talks are not necessarily in this order).___________ Talk 1 "Supramolecular Origami" - Materials Science, by Neil Branda, Professor of Chemistry, SFU Abstract: Far below what we can see, molecules can change shape when hit with light or electricity. Chemists design these “molecular switches” to build materials that respond, adapt, and quietly do work on their own. This research treats molecules like origami made of chemistry. Molecules are designed so small signals trigger precise folds, changing what they recognize and how they behave. If you can control how molecules move and interact, you can build smart materials - materials that react to light, store information, sense their environment, or change behaviour on command. This talk is a guided tour of a hidden construction site where the smallest building blocks quietly shape the future, one invisible fold at a time. Speaker Bio:  Neil is a Professor of Chemistry at SFU and the Canada Research Chair in Materials Science. Neil is also the Scientific Director of 4D LABS, a research centre for advanced materials & nano-scale devices, and CTO of SWITCH Materials Inc. Neil has a PhD in Chemistry & Philosophy and his postdoc research was conducted at MIT in the area of supramolecular chemistry with Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn, a foundational figure in the field.  - - - - - - Talk 2 "Life Outside Our Solar System" - Exoplanets by Michelle Kunimoto, Assistant Professor, Astrophysicist, UBC Abstract: For as long as we've looked up at the night sky, we've wondered: Are we alone? In recent decades, the discovery of planets beyond our Solar System - known as exoplanets - has brought us closer than ever to answering that question. This talk will explore how astronomers detect these distant worlds, what we’ve learned about the incredible diversity of planetary systems, and how we begin to identify which of these planets might be capable of supporting life. From gas giants in tight orbits to rocky planets in just the right conditions, each discovery adds a piece to the puzzle of how common - or rare - Earth-like worlds might be. Today, thanks to open data and citizen science tools, anyone can join the search. Speaker Bio:  Dr. Michelle Kunimoto is an Astrophysicist and Assistant Professor at UBC. Michelle served as a Torres Postdoc Fellow and as a TESS Postdoc Associate at MIT and was selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science in 2017. Michelle has personally discovered over 3,700 potential planets. Yes, about half the known planet candidates from NASA's TESS mission (7,890 as of January 2026), have been discovered by Michelle.  - - - - - - Talk 3 “Spooky Action at a Distance" - Quantum Entanglement by Mark Van Raamsdonk, Theoretical Nuclear Physicist & Professor, UBC Abstract: Albert Einstein built relativity on one rule: nothing outruns light. Quantum entanglement appears to break that rule. When particles become entangled, their information is no longer stored locally. Measure one and you measure the other in that same instant, even across cosmic distances. In 1935 Einstein was deeply unnerved by this idea and famously called it “spooky action at a distance.” That same year, Erwin Schrödinger (of Schrödinger’s cat fame) realized that this shared information was fundamental to quantum physics and coined the term “entanglement” specifically to describe the phenomenon Einstein believed was proof that quantum mechanics was incomplete. From exotic states of matter to black holes storing information, learn why entanglement sits at the core of quantum physics, shaping everything from emerging quantum technologies to our deepest theories of spacetime. Speaker Bio:  Mark Van Raamsdonk is a Theoretical Physicist and Professor at UBC. Mark earned his undergrad degree in math and physics at UBC, completed his PhD in theoretical physics at Princeton, and held a postdoc position at Stanford. He is widely known for his work exploring how spacetime may emerge from quantum information. Mark is a Simons Investigator, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and the recipient of the CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics.  Event Location: Jack Lonsdale's Public House (127-1433 Lonsdale Avenue)