What do LASIK, the beginning of the universe, and the world’s smallest tweezers have in common?

They are all connected by the fact that particles of light – called photons – can exert enough force to move matter. Through the study of this phenomenon, scientists have uncovered why comets have tails, developed lasers, detected the shockwaves leftover from the Big Bang, and even manipulated single atoms at will – and that’s just the beginning.

Join Professor Fainstein from the Balseiro Institute of Argentina for a special talk to explore the fascinating story of this force of light and the surprising applications it has inspired, including his work developing a type of laser that emits sound, instead of light!

Tūhura and our partners at Te Whai Ao – Dodd-Walls Centre are excited to offer this talk free of charge, in celebration of 2025 – UNESCO’S International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.