Poison Frogs; Quantum Chem – May 11

Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with special communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:

• Stanford biologist Billie Goolsby on Family Feud: Familial Decision-Making in Poison Frogs — Cooperation between parents tends to ensure family success, especially among poison frogs. Through direct observation, sound recordings, and hormone analysis, researchers test how coordination of parenting happens in nature — and how it predicts offspring survival.

• UC Berkeley physicist Ashwin Singh on Exploring Quantum Chemistry with Earth’s Strongest Laser — Quantum mechanics helps describe cold chemical reactions, like those that occur in outer space. By building the world’s strongest laser to hold molecules in place, we can watch quantum chemistry happen in real time.