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Nanopores are single nanometer-sized holes in thin insulating
membranes, which present a new tool for the detection and analysis of
individual biopolymers such as DNA. Applying a voltage bias, negatively
charged DNA molecules are pulled through the pore by the electric
field. When a molecule enters the channel, it displaces its own volume
of solution and hence it alters the pore ionic conductance. By
recording the ionic current it is possible to detect the passage of
individual molecules.

Optical microresonators find application in many fields of physics and engineering, from quantum optics to photonic engineering. Small size, unconventional geometry and the use of new material systems make these devices different from macroscopic resonators. In particular one encounters the limits of the paraxial approximation, a workhorse of optics that gives rise to the well-known Gaussian beams. Motivated by recent experimental progress, we have performed numerical simulations of dome-shaped microcavities, allowing for the effects of different mirror materials and geometries.

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How do you keep a classroom of 100 undergraduates actively learning? Can students practice communication and teamwork skills in a large class? How do you boost the performance of underrepresented groups? The Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs (SCALE-UP) Project has addressed these concerns. Materials developed by the project are now in use by more than 1/3 of all science, math, and engineering majors nationwide. Physics and chemistry classes are currently in operation, with biology, engineering, and oceanography adaptations in progress.

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Ninety-five percent of the universe is missing! Astronomical observations suggest that most of the mass of the universe is in a mysterious form called "dark matter" and most of the energy in the universe is in an even more mysterious form called "dark energy." Unlocking the secrets of dark matter and dark energy will illuminate the nature of space and time and connect the quantum world with the cosmos.

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