• Unveiling Martian Secrets: Tales from the Curiosity and Perseverance Rovers by Sanjeev Gupta
• Nuclear Hide-and-Seek: Detecting Radiation by Caroline Shenton-Taylor
• Fusion Energy: The Power of the Future by Leah Morgan
• The Quantum Computing Race by Nick Harrigan
• Deep Ocean Lab by Greg Foot

Sanjeev Gupta works for NASA, where he specifically focuses on the environmental change of planetary surfaces over geological timescales. During his talk, he explained some of the processes that NASA are currently undertaking in order to analyse the surface of Mars, with the aim of learning more about the history of Earth’s neighbouring planet. He also provided some insight into the engineering processes behind the workings of the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.

Caroline Shenton-Taylor, an applied nuclear physicist, explored the way in which artificial intelligence is changing the way we detect radiation, and discussed the challenges in her field, involving nuclear security, nuclear decommissioning and medicine. She investigated how people work to find the balance between detecting radioactivity and keeping safe at the same time.

Leah Morgan is involved in fusion energy research at the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and during the ‘Physics in Action’ day, she delved into the remarkable world of fusion energy engineering. She explained how scientists are working to revolutionise our global energy landscape by developing the use of nuclear fusion energy, which not only has no carbon emissions, but is also estimated to generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than fission!

Nick Harrigan has spent over 15 years exploring the mysteries of quantum mechanics and quantum computing. In his lecture, he explained how teams of people all across the world are racing to build the world’s first ‘useful’ quantum computer, and why this is the case – what makes these quantum computers so unique? Nick discussed some of the workings behind key concepts in quantum physics, like superposition, and how these ideas might help to find solutions to otherwise impossible problems.

Greg Foot, who currently writes and hosts popular BBC 4 show and podcast Sliced Bread, told the story of his scientific adventure into the deep. He detailed some of the physics and engineering behind the high-tech submersible that took him to the crushing pressure of the Twilight Zone, as well as what he learnt from his experience.

By Max and Liv, Physics Subject Ambassadors