Modelling erosion and deposition in geophysical granular mass flows

During hazardous geophysical mass flows, such as rock or snow avalanches, debris flows and volcanic pyroclastic flows, a continuous exchange of material can occur between the slide and the bed. The net balance between erosion and deposition of particles can drastically influence the behaviour of these flows. Recent advances in describing the non-monotonic effective basal friction and the internal granular rheology in depth averaged theories have enabled small scale laboratory experiments (see fig. 1) to be quantitatively reproduced and can also be implemented in large scale models to improve hazard mitigation.

A very singular theorem

An elusive idea that emerged on a pedestrian crossing revealed some of the mysteries inside black holes. Announced in barely a couple of pages, it has been worth the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Searches for new physics with free neutrons and radioactive atomic nuclei

The Standard Model of Particle Physics is very successful but does not explain several experimental observations. Extensions of it, invoking new particles or phenomena, could overcome this. Experiments in different energy domains allow testing these extensions and searching for new particles. Here focus is on low-energy experiments with neutrons and radioactive nuclei.

Inquiry-based Science Education and e-Learning

Science classrooms (even in the time of the pandemic) should provide more challenging, inquiry-based, authentic and higher-order learning experiences allowing students to participate in scientific practices and tasks. Rich scientific databases, e-Learning tools and digital educational resources can serve as a catalyst for science learning. They can offer a better understanding of complex scientific research, making science understandable and interesting to the students.

Astrophotonics: Processing starlight

The field of astrophotonics has been fostering photonic innovations critical and unique to astronomical applications for several years. As we are about to embark on the new era of extremely large telescopes, astrophotonics is poised to become an integral part of the next generation astronomical instruments.

Digital Grids beyond Smart Grids challenges to make future electric grids stable and resilient

Novel technologies are changing our understanding of the electrical grid. These novel concepts, including power electronics, energy storage, ICT and renewable energy make the electrical grid highly controllable but at the same time also vulnerable. The future grid will introduce novel dynamics, stability challenges and security issues to be handled.

NEED Northern European Enclosure Dam

To protect fifteen northern European countries against sea level rise, a highly ambitious plan was put forward to build massive sea dams across the North Sea and the English Channel, which will cut off the North Sea from the rest of the Atlantic Ocean.

Nobel prize 50 years ago

As we recall the major contributions of Professor Dennis Gabor that resulted in his Nobel Prize in Physics in 1971 for the invention of holography, it is interesting to put his impact on science, technology, as well as humanity, in a broader context so as to better understand his experiences, and recognize the very significant role that he played in his time.

Quantum thermodynamics at low temperatures

Low temperature phenomena and methods are quantum thermodynamics per se. Modern engineered quantum systems, for instance those used for superconducting quantum information processing and mesoscopic electron transport, provide working media for realizing devices such as quantum heat engines and refrigerators and a testbed for fundamental principles and phenomena in thermodynamics of quantum systems and processes.

Probing the earth’s interior with neutrinos

Neutrinos, the lightest entities of the Standard Model of particle physics, can traverse matter like no other known particle. The advent of a new generation of neutrino telescopes is turning these elusive messengers into a new probe to investigate the structure and composition of the deep Earth.