From The Royal Institution.
What chemistry would you need to be a Star Wars bounty hunter? What’s the science behind lightsabers? And could you really freeze someone in carbonite?
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This lecture was recorded on May 4 2025 at the Royal Institution.
Join award-winning chemist Alex Baker, as he returns to the Ri to explore the freezing of Han Solo, the colours of lightsabers, the reactions that power star ships and much more. Buckle up and prepare to be transported on a planet-hopping journey of chemical exploration that uncovers the real-world science that inspires Star Wars.
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Alex Baker is an award-winning research chemist and inventor in the Chemistry Department at the University of Warwick. He is a senior founding fellow of the Warwick Institute of Engagement with a passion for engaging the public in all things Chemistry. As the research lead of the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group his research develops medical diagnostics for low-income countries using organic chemistry and nanotechnology to fight neglected tropical diseases such as snake bites. He believes passionately that everyone should have access to high quality science, so has founded conferences and events targeted at students from under-represented backgrounds. When not in the lab, Alex is a massive nerd (that’s a good thing!) watching Sci-Fi and playing videogames – especially Star Wars!
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