Grounds for Science - Mummies, whiskey and capturing CO2

Can We Stop Emitting CO₂ While Still Using Fossil Fuels for Energy?

As humans continue to emit CO₂ from our power plants and vehicles, the global average temperature continues to rise. Our dependence on fossil fuels is causing this change in our climate, but we might be too dependent on these fuels to be able to switch to cleaner energy sources in time to stop it. Luckily, researchers are currently developing a process called Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), which promises to stop CO₂ emissions from fossil-fuel fired power plants. In this talk, I will explain exactly how we can achieve this, and how it takes a combination of chemistry, engineering, geology, and economics to realize this goal.

Speaker: Tom Osborn Popp, UC Berkeley

Whiskey, Mummies, and Oil Spills: How One Technique Unites Them All

Whiskey can taste pretty good, mummies are cool when they’re not rising from the grave, and oil spills can wreak havoc on ecosystems. While seemingly different, scientists use one analytical technique called mass spectrometry to understand the flavor profiles of whiskey, what materials were used in mummification, and how petroleum changes in composition after a spill. Come learn how scientists use this amazing technique to understand aspects of environmental monitoring, archaeology, and alcohol!

Speaker: Jeremy Nowak, UC Berkeley