Could there be a better way to begin than asking ‘What
exactly is light?’ - the ultimate
driving force behind our existence. Starting from our caveman ancestor’s fires
to the LEDs in our mobile phones, the team used a range of demos (and plenty of
music!) to explain the properties of this intangible, unphysical substance.
Presenters Professor Duncan Cameron and Dr Nate Adams complemented each other
perfectly; the more serious 'proper' academic alongside an overexcited
boy-who-never-grew-up who simply loved setting things alight. Indeed, the take-home
message of the evening could well have been: “If you want to make it
interesting, set fire to it!” We were treated to some dazzling displays from
plasma balls to the beautiful pink flames of lithium. Perhaps more impressive
than the firepower, as Nate explained, is the fact that lithium is thought to
be one of only three elements (alongside hydrogen and helium) that were created
just minutes after the Big Bang, even before the first stars and galaxies began
to form.
 |
| An excited crowd gathers in Firth Hall, University of Sheffield (Image Credit: University of Sheffield) |
Coming back to earth, we were then introduced to RoboPlant-
a giant robotic plant made by a team of students at the University of Sheffield-
for a whistlestop tour of photosynthesis. The team explained how we depend on
this complex series of reactions in plants for the glucose that powers our food
chains. Ultimately, we convert this into energy during respiration: much of the
biochemistry of which was investigated by Nobel-Prize winning scientist Hans
Krebs right here in Sheffield.
Moving seamlessly from chemistry to physics, the team then
set about calculating the force of gravity using a giant pendulum (that looked
suspiciously like a disco ball…) and an iPad. As an abstract concept, gravity
can be a tough subject to grapple with, potentially turning many a young mind
away from physics. But seeing it in action here through simple, accessible
equipment gave a powerful message that the unseen forces governing our universe
can be understood by all.
It wasn't all fun and games though: the evening took a
serious turn as we moved to the topic of global warming. Even when presented in
a rock song, the facts are stark and a clear call to action to develop more
sustainable ways of living. It was a good demonstration of how scientific
research and innovation will be critical for us to address the urgent,
global-scale challenges we face. Nevertheless, the evening ended on a high, as
the presenters sought a way to illustrate what sound really looks like. Forget slinky springs - not surprisingly the
answer was fire, this time in the form of a Ruben's tube. As a speaker blasted
sound waves down a tube of flammable gas, a row of flames on top responded to
the pressure wave passing beneath by dancing higher or lower, beautifully describing
the shape of the wave – very impressive!
 |
| An endless array of mesmerising demonstrations kept the audience captivated (Image Credit: University of Sheffield) |
 |
| Serious scientific messages were set to awesome music (Image Credit: University of Sheffield) |
