NEWPORT NEWS, VA – In conjunction with the inaugural Virginia Science Festival being held across the Commonwealth Oct. 4-11, 2014, Jefferson Lab will hold two events.
Learn About the Building Blocks of Matter on Oct. 7
Jefferson Lab Staff Scientist Douglas Higinbotham will present “Studying the Building Blocks of Matter” beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 in the CEBAF Center auditorium.
Since ancient times, humans have inquired about what makes up the world around them. In antiquity, the Greeks believed the world to be made up of earth, water, air, fire and the aether. Today, researchers at Jefferson Lab study quarks and gluons: what we now believe to be the fundamental building blocks of the atomic nucleus, according to Higinbotham. Jefferson Lab's research on the building blocks of matter will be presented along with a discussion about why you should care.
The program is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about science. The program will last about one hour and will include a question-and-answer period at the end.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fun and Science With the Cryo Show on Oct. 9
Then at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9, a presentation of the Liquid Nitrogen demonstration (aka Cryo Show) will take place in the auditorium. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Nitrogen, as a gas, makes up nearly 80 percent of the air around us. If it is cooled enough, it changes from a gas to a liquid. Then the real fun begins! The audience will explore how everyday objects change when they are cooled to 321 degrees below zero Fahrenheit; and discover how these low temperatures help Jefferson Lab scientists learn about the inner workings of atoms.
Both events are free.
Jefferson Lab is located at 12000 Jefferson Ave., Newport News. Enter at the lab’s main entrance (Lawrence Dr.) and park in the CEBAF Center parking lot. Everyone over 16 is asked to carry a photo ID. Security guards may perform ID, bookbag, purse and vehicle checks. For directions and information about other education and lecture programs, visit http://education.jlab.org/indexpages/program.html
For more about the Virginia Science Festival, and events being held across the Commonwealth Oct. 4-11, visit: http://virginiasciencefestival.org/