Abstract: Cosmic Rays affect the climate though changes in the atmospheric ionization. This emerging theory is supported by evidence which has been accumulating over the past decade or so. We will review this evidence, ranging from climate variations associated with cosmic ray flux variations over multi-million year time scale (and which are the…

The direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs) offers a revolutionary new probe of the most energetic processes in the universe and a test of general relativity in new regimes. The 4 km long LIGO interferometers have demonstrated the sub-attometer displacement sensitivity ( 10^{-18} m/ Hz^{1/2}) and continuous operation (> 75\% duty…

The field of quantum information science promises computational methods that are more efficient than classical algorithms for certain calculations. In particular, the use of a well-controlled quantum system to simulate computationally-intense quantum many-body problems is likely to produce nontrivial results in the next couple of years. While…

Abstract: Rapid progress in coherent control of single trapped atomic ions and ensembles of ultracold atoms in optical lattices has enabled more precise atomic physics measurements, a probe of fundamental quantum physics, and progress towards quantum information processing. Here I present recent results on approaches to quantum information with…

Abstract: What lies beyond the Standard Model of particle physics? Are there very weakly interacting forms of matter and forces waiting to be discovered? In this talk I will describe some of the efforts underway to detect very weakly interacting particles, from dark matter to new forces. I will discuss recent observations and their theoretical…

Advances in the quantum manipulation of ultracold atomic gases are opening a new frontier in the quest to better understand strongly correlated matter. By exploiting the long-range and anisotropic character of the dipole-dipole interaction, we hope to create novel forms of quantum mesophases, states of quantum soft matter intermediate between…

Abstract: Ultracold atoms in optical lattices are expected to exhibit correlated magnetic quantum phases, but only below a Curie or Néel temperature which is typically less than 1 nanoKelvin. Realization and measurement of this low temperature is the most challenging obstacle on the path towards observation of quantum magnetism in lattice-trapped…

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