This week, Cluster 2 has been busy as ever. We continued learning about the fascinating world of nanochemistry and nanotechnology, learning concepts relating to 1-D and 2-D nanostructures, how batteries work, and electrochemistry. Specifically, Dr. Shaowei Chen expanded our knowledge of how to create different kinds of nanostructures, including that of a gold nanorod. In addition to continuing our study on 1-D and 2-D nanostructures, we were introduced to energy sciences, including how different types of batteries work and how they are applicable in our world today in computers, cars, phones, and more. In the same realm, we learned about electrochemical cells, and about the processes that take place in order to create a voltage.
This week, we were again able to quantify what we learned about in two labs. In the first lab, which focused on the synthesis of cadmium sulfide quantum dots, we saw the solution change colors (indicating that cadmium sulfide particles were forming), and we saw that, when exposed to UV light, the nanoparticles floresce. We learned that this indicates how they interact with light, which was interesting to see. In the second lab, we were able to observe what we learned about an electrochemical cell. We saw the anodization of bismuth, in which bismuth underwent an oxidation-reduction reaction, creating a voltage, which was shown on a meter.
Dr. Roger Terrill’s lectures this week did not cease to amaze us. We learned about a variety of different topics, including continuing our learning about band theory and the Mossbauer Effect.
In addition to learning new concepts this week, we also chose our presentation topics and started our research.
Though some topics introduced this week were difficult to understand at times, the Cluster 2 professors and TAs (Dr. Chen, Dr. Terrill, Qiming, Forrest, and Davida) helped us understand the content better, and provided us with so much support for the past three weeks. We are all excited to head into the fourth week of COSMOS, and can’t wait to present what we’ve learned in our final presentations! - Ankita Prasad
Cluster 3 Bubblers, Feathers, and Fur: Exploring Animals in the Ocean and on Land
Week 3 has been a blast for Cluster 3! This week, I interviewed Isabel Hyman to find out about their recent exciting endeavors.
On Monday, Cluster 3 had the chance to watch a truly unforgettable, live necropsy of a baby Northern Fur Seal firsthand. While it was a rather fascinating experience for some, the necropsy was a terrifying and revolting experience for others. At any rate, it was unfortunately before lunch, so hopefully no one lost their appetite that day!
Later on in the week, Prof. Shawn Noren taught them all about how marine mammals dive, followed by a diving lab. However, this was not your everyday virtual lab, as Cluster 3 had a pleasant (or possibly unpleasant) surprise: they would be the test subjects! Cluster 3 conducted the experiment by measuring their own breaths and heart rates at rest and after doing high knees for about a minute to compare (glad to see we’re exercising with all that Zoom time!). To finish the lab, they compared the results to marine mammal results taken from previous years. To wrap up the morning sessions, Cluster 3 went on a field trip to an island to see and learn about elephant seals and their culture.
Cluster 3’s afternoon sessions were just as unexpected. On Monday and Wednesday, Prof. Alex Jones showed Cluster 3 around the Norris Center for Natural History at UCSC. They observed a variety of preserved creatures and taxonomy birds, and later revisited the Norris Center to examine the skulls of various critters. Near the end of the week, Cluster 3 discovered different ways to track animals, which include scrutinizing animal tracks or looking for items left behind by the animal such as scat. Additionally, they learned about mustelids from guest lecturer Chris Law. They put their new skills to the test by identifying tracks and scat on a meadow on the UCSC campus, spotting a young coyote as well as a golden eagle!
It’s no surprise that Cluster 3 is currently practicing presenting their final projects, as they have already finished working on them! They are looking forward to learning from each other through presentations next week. - Jamin Xie
Cluster 4 The Physics of Single-Atom-Thick Sheets
With the third week of COSMOS coming to a close, students of Cluster 4 have immersed themselves even further into the exciting world of nanotechnology. Throughout the week, we were able to go on multiple lab tours, which were opportunities for us to experience real-life applications of crystallography and quantum mechanics.
In the morning course, Carlos Gonzalez, our teaching assistant, introduced us to the chemical compound we would be working with — chromium iodide — as well as the process — atomic force microscopy (AFM). This technique allowed us to image the surface of the sample by holding a sharp tip very close to it. A laser comes down, causing the tip to oscillate, which forms an image. Afterwards, we were able to analyze the image using computer softwares.
In the afternoon class, our teaching assistant Caren Nader also showed us the inner workings of laboratory work. Here, we focused specifically on graphene. Starting off with the famous “scotch tape method,” where a piece of tape is used to peel off a thin layer of graphene, the lab grew more intensive. After a lengthy heating period, we were able to observe the lattice structure of the graphene.
It was amazing to see the laboratory technology in action, a glimpse at life as a scientist. However, labs weren’t the only part of Cluster 4’s week — we also learned a lot from both from our professors. With Prof. Aiming Yan, we got to discuss electron-matter interaction, Monte-Carlo simulations, the scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Meanwhile, Prof. Jairo Velasco took us beyond the first dimension of Schrödinger's equation this week, while also teaching us the spin quantum number, the Stern-Gerlach experiment, and molecular models, including graphene as a 2D solid.
Cluster 4 also got to spend time together outside the classroom this week since our teacher fellow, Carina Wandel, took us on a fun boba adventure! On both Thursday and Friday, we were all invited to get bubble tea during lunch — a classic Cluster 4 tradition. What a great week it’s been, and I’m sure next week will be just as exciting as we head off into our final presentations! - Tania Firouzabady
Cluster 5 Video Game Design
This week kicked off with a rare occurrence: Cluster 5 on Zoom rather than Discord! UCSC lecturer Tad Leckman — also introduced as the creator of every movie you’ve ever watched and of every video game you’ve ever played — joined us with an extensive presentation about the various positions in the video game industry, including art, engineering, and project management. Afterwards, we settled back in Discord for workshops teaching about escape rooms, game writing, and Twine. On Tuesday, we met indie game developer Marguerite Dibble, who started her own business structured around making games that strive to educate and help people handle issues like healthcare and politics. It was truly a new experience to learn about a side of games that we don't normally hear about: those that focus on more than pure entertainment. Students then shared several Lost Levels-style talks, with a wide range of topics from crab supremacy to a demonstration of how to do pushups. We learned the basics of 3D art with the Maya software, delved deeper into the RenPy game engine, and were introduced to UI/UX. Students were additionally challenged to create a 3D version of the glorious :pee: emote using Maya! The next day, we used various Photoshop-esque photo editors to familiarize ourselves with the process of creating 2D art. This resulted in several edits involving (definitely not haunted) ducks: two-headed duck, duck staring down a hole, cool duck, crying… duck, you get the idea. Our cluster explored tabletop games, paper prototyping, and the process of publishing games.
Ultimately, our third week has been filled with exploration and screaming (albeit often virtual), and time has gone by all too fast. With all of the skills Cluster 5 has acquired from the past few weeks, we are now prepared to develop our own games! It won’t be easy, but it will be, without a doubt, super fun. - April Gong
Cluster 6 Introduction into Smart Power
In the third week of COSMOS, Cluster 6 started off strong by expanding on the topics of solar and thermal power. Unfortunately, the cluster had to say goodbye to Dr. Gabriel Intriago, the instructor of the first half of COSMOS, and we started class with Dr. Yu Zhang, who will be teaching us for the following days. The class was immediately captivated by the explosion of wind turbines, which demonstrated how the weather affects power generators. Before moving to new topics, the class reviewed concepts covered in prior lectures, such as geothermal and tidal energy. Then, Dr. Zhang proposed the question of why renewable energy is deemed a worldwide necessity, highlighting the crucial flaws with modern power systems. Cluster 6 has been expanding our knowledge on renewable energy in hopes of building a brighter future.
With the deadline fast approaching, students began working on their final presentations. While we struggle with researching their topics and building their projects, we’re all working hard throughout the process. One group of students have chosen to center their project around wireless inductive charging. Working as a group on this complex final presentation replicates an experience similar to scientists collaborating on a research paper.
Cluster 6 has been hard at work throughout this week, but we always had time to relax with activities such as tea talks in the morning with Kristen Hart, their TA, and time to play games such as Skribbl.io and Gartic Phone during lunch. Truly the living embodiment of work hard, play hard! - Viggo Kovas
Cluster 7 Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology
Week 3 of COSMOS had many of us in Cluster 7 finding our groove. By now, bacterial streak plating was no longer mere science but an art. Utilizing inoculating loops as brushes, we stroked the delicate, gelatinous AGAR plates with fermented fruit juices acting as our homemade paints. With a little luck and a lot of patience, we witnessed the growth of bacterial colonies — big and small — that filled our microbial canvases with designs that would make Van Gogh proud. With our dabbles in the arts and sciences, there were times when I was unsure whether I was learning microbiology or philosophy when Prof. Chad Saltikov enlightened the class with slices of wisdom such as: “It’s human nature knowing what we need to do, but still not doing it.” This Aristotle-esque quote stemmed from a discussion about washing your hands, followed by a healthy hygiene PSA by none other than Spongebob Squarepants. The wildness does not stop there. In environmental toxicology class, we examined our weekly diets for the presence of toxic mercury in the foods we consumed. The culprit for the highest mercury concentration was revealed to be tuna of all varieties. So the next time you decide to eat at an all-you-can-eat sushi joint, keep the spicy tuna roll to one only. Thank you, Prof. Peter Weiss, for being our dietary knight in shining armor. The man is out here saving lives, one food group at a time. Bacterial masterpieces, philosophical awakenings, and healthier diets are just precursors to next week’s fantastic final projects by Cluster 7 students. - Luke Garcia
Cluster 8 Marine Mammals Oceanography
Cluster 8 has a new name: The Walrus Gang. This new name was inspired by Dr. Shawn Noren’s love for walruses. Additionally, Victoria Setiawan painted a walrus — still disputing on the name — during paint night as our mascot!
This week, in our morning sessions with Dr. Baldo Marinovic, we circled the globe looking at different ecosystems. Particularly outstanding, we discussed narwhals — swimming in the ocean, causing a commotion — and the purpose for their “horn.” The current hypothesis is that the “horns” are temperature and salinity detectors. Therefore, they provide an early warning if the water above a narwhal is freezing. And, of course, we did talk about walruses!
Our Monday afternoon session was unforgettable, for both good and bad reasons. Robin Dunkin from Dunkin Lab visited with a dead Pacific white-sided dolphin. For the next two hours, our cluster went into shock as we watched her perform a necropsy. Did I mention that this was right after lunch?
However, this week did have some redeeming qualities. We learned all about the dive response. Though Dr. Noren did force us to exercise. Unfortunate. But at least in the name of science!
On Friday, Patrick Robinson from The Costa Lab took us on a field trip to Año Nuevo. On the island, we stared intently at seabird breeding grounds as well as sea lions hauled out on the beach. There were also a large group of elephant seals. We witnessed two juvenile males making their first attempts at fighting.
Our Teacher Fellow, Lindsay Shimasaki, and TA, Arina Favilla, have been hard at work helping us wrap up our final projects. They should be done by Sunday, and we will spend the rest of the week preparing for presentations! - Sharis Hsu
Cluster 9 The Building Blocks of Life: Molecules and Cells in Biology
Cluster 9 has been hard at work on our final gene presentations! We’ve spent the week immersed in research about our genes. We explored topics like gene cloning. Specifically, we learned how to choose vectors and restriction enzymes, plus insert our genes into their respective vectors. In Dr. Shanks' class we continued the cloning process of our genes, learning about new methods like gel electrophoresis and horizontal gene transfer. Next week we will be exploring DNA sequencing and protein purification.
In Dr. Wang’s class, we followed up last week’s lectures on embryonic development. We studied gastrulation and neurulation in various animals like humans, chickens, and frogs. Later this week, we worked in groups of three reading a research paper. At the end, we gave presentations on a research paper centered around the expression cloning of noggin, a new dorsalizing factor in xenopus embryos. Each group studied and discussed a different figure in the paper, allowing for an in-depth understanding of cloning cDNA. Plus, this project gave us the opportunity to interact with and get to know each other.
All in all, Cluster 9 is looking forward to the culmination of our research efforts next week as we finish and present our final projects. Although we are all sad to know the COSMOS experience is almost over, we have high expectations for the final week! - Annesha Dey
Cluster 10 Semi-conductor Materials and Device Engineering
Welcome to week 3, everyone! Wow, this program has gone by super fast. We have covered many more ideas in addition to the sheer number of topics from the past two weeks.
In Professor Kobayashi’s class, we delved into interesting facts about thermoelectric power generation. One real-world application of this involves solar panels, where heat energy is absorbed and then released as electric power. In addition, we went over reverse and forward biases (little to do with being personally biased). Instead, they described whether the junction between an n- and p-type semiconductor worked for or against the voltage difference. Finally, we explored how the relationship between voltage and current was not entirely Ohmic (voltage varies directly with current) at large voltages, as there is a physical limit on the amount of current.
In the afternoon, we explored some computer science topics taught by PhD student Olivia Johnson and connected those ideas to semiconductors. As both computer science and semiconductors operate on a binary system, (1/0 being on and off) it was interesting to see how two fairly different fields could relate. We also practiced an “elevator pitch”, where you try to describe something “cool” to someone else in a short amount of time; i.e. you meet Professor Shaowei and you want to tell him about your research topic. Finally, to end off such a fantastic week, we made a p-type (or n-type) semiconductor with Play Doh, which I thought was really cool!
After learning so much about semiconductors, we began working on our research projects about semiconductor devices. I know that our projects will be eye-opening by the time we finish, and so do the professors. Everyone has worked so hard this summer, and I really can’t wait to see how these projects end up! - Henry Qi
Cluster 11 Feedback Control with Applications to Robots
Cluster 11: Feedback Control with Applications to Robotics (FCAR for short) has heated up in its third week of play. Students have become coding architects, utilizing MATLAB and CoppeliaSim to build complex control algorithms designed to simulate the motion of quadcopters. This is gibberish to the likes of myself, but the building blocks of the future for these bright programmers. In the words of Cluster 11 student Alex Zhao, “[It’s] third grade physics problems on steroids.” What that means, I hope to never find out.
Student Michelle Zhao seems to have it figured out as she observed that CoppeliaSim’s namesake relates to a ballet about mechanical dolls. Of course, students in this class operate with state-of-the-art programs and robots instead of dolls. With Professor Abhishshek Halder and students like Michelle acting as the choreographers in this robotic dance, we will all bear witness to the mechanical marvels their tinkering bestows upon our world. Who knows? Maybe someone from Cluster 11 will create the next Baymax or dimension-breaking programming in the TARDIS control console.
Accompanying their MATLAB lessons, students are preparing for their final projects in which they research specific aspects regarding the inner workings of various robots. Student Sarah Zhang honed her transferable skills by analyzing scientific abstracts and applying what she learned to the presentation of her own project. Like every cluster, FCAR’s professors and TAs have been instrumental in guiding students towards success. Because of their excellent guidance, Cluster 11 students will have the ability to implement their newly learned skills in MATLAB to deliver fascinating final projects. - Luke Garcia
Cluster 12 Scattering and Diffraction of Materials
With more engaging and exciting activities, the third week of COSMOS was no exception in demonstrating the uniqueness of Cluster 12!
In the morning sessions with Prof. Belanger, we started off by reviewing phase transitions and universal critical behavior. To quantify the properties of the Ising and Heisenberg models in different dimensions near phase transitions, we looked at various diagrams and charts from Prof. Belanger’s research. Furthermore, Cluster 12 learned that randomness and uncertainty can affect these properties along with the diluteness of the sample and other factors. Prof. Belanger advised us to use theories as a guide in experiments rather than making the mistake of trying to prove that the theorists are right, since theorists aren’t infallible. As a side note, don’t make scientists worry about power consumption at a high magnetic field lab by generating a magnetic field over 20 Teslas in strength!
During the afternoon sessions with Prof. Oliver, Cluster 12 used various softwares to conduct structure and crystal analysis. We have been using VESTA and Mercury to better quantify and visualize the content we learned in the last few weeks, as well as other data analysis tools. In fact, to practice for the presentation next week, we each had the opportunity to present a structure of our choice, for example graphene, corundum, or silica, by showing unit cell structures with lattice planes and powder diffraction pattern plots in VESTA and Mercury. We ended the week by looking at zeolites and porous materials, which we will continue exploring next week.
Outside of academics, Cluster 12 connected with each other through COSMOS activities, chatted in Discord, occasionally flipped their Zoom videos at the beginning and end of classes, and worked hard to compile random iconic and out of context moments. We are looking forward to the last (but certainly not least) week of COSMOS! - Jamin Xie