Another fascinating example of computational science, The Cosmic Dawn Project - how the universe evolved after Big Bang

 An amazing animation coming from a supercomputer simulation of the evolution of the universe following the Big Bang has been published. This movie shows how it took tens of millions of years for the first gas atoms and molecules (almost entirely hydrogen) to begin to come together under gravity to form the first stars. What this new simulation does for the first time is include the interaction between radiation from the Big Bang and the first stars and matter (gas clouds). Filaments of gas formed in a web-like pattern, which are the white strands that develop in the movie. It is along these massive strands where more stars and eventually the first galaxies formed. We see web-like patterns of matter forming a superstructure to the universe to this day! Very cool! This is part of the Cosmic Dawn Project, which attempts to understand the birth and evolution of the universe.

Cracking/Fragmentation of glass - wide range of experimentation with this!

 A good example of original research that can be done in the area of fragmentation/cracking of material, such as glass slides, can be found here. Interesting variations can be done on this in numerous ways. FOr instance, looking at what cracks when there's more than 2 layers of slides could be done. Having the landing object land on different locations of the slide can be done. Hitting on an edge rather than the flat face of the slide could be done. Different sized and shaped slides could be used (circular rather than rectangular, for instance - what happens as boundary conditions are changed? Check out the paper and see if this type of research interests you! It is good experience to have in effectively 'counting' experiments, where one does as many cracked examples as possible, and then categorizes each one by a type or class of cracking - basically one looks to 'measure' the probabilities for each type of cracking pattern to form. Or you can try other materials in a similar manner. 

Get some other ideas for these types of experiments with this article. 

Electron Spin - A good story of how theoretical science & research (physics) evolves

 If you've had high school chemistry, likely you've been introduced to the 4 quantum numbers necessary to understand the structure of the periodic table of elements. One of those four numbers is the "spin" of the electron. Spin has traditionally been thought of in a literal sense, as if every electron spins around some axis like a top. But it is not quite that simple. 

If you are interested in theoretical work, a good Scientific American historical article about electronic spin shows how this work is often done, where a lot of what ifs are asked and explored to try and make sense out of a concept or experimental result or physical observation. It often takes years with many brilliant people thinking about a particular phenomenon, before consensus arises among theorists, and hopefully from that process comes predictions that can be tested experimentally. Already something like spin is showing promise as a contender for quantum computing, and as the article discusses, our universe would not be our universe without electronic spin!

Math Modeling contest - a good way to build student teamwork and analytical-problem solving skills

 Math modeling for high school students is a nice pathway to build up analysis and problem solving skills. For instance, the COMAP High School Math Modeling Competition allows small teams of students two weeks to try and develop a viable, reasonable solution to an open-ended, complex, real-world problem. This is unlike typical math problem solving in school, and allows students to break free with a wonderful challenge that requires their creativity and skills in numerous STEM areas. They also have the experience of doing some technical writing. So many of the skills students can develop and grow with these experiences only enhance and help with science research. Encourage students to try this. Another opportunity is the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge. 

Research into climate change and Greenland ice sheet melting - significant ocean rise basically inevitable

  A new study of Greenland's rapidly melting ice sheets concludes, using a conservative model, that oceans will rise at least 10 inches over the coming years/decades. While no timeline was given, this melting will occur regardless of what humans do to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The reason is that the melting cycle has already been put into motion, and the combination of warming ocean temps, water from melted ice (that then melts more ice...sort of like pouring liquid water on ice cubes in a sink will melt the ice), and the fact that warming water expands in volume, means this rise is inevitable. Also, using sophisticated radar techniques, dozens of lakes below the surface ice have been discovered - this means there is melting happening underneath the ice that we had not observed before. Often some computer models were underestimating the rate of melting, and as further research is done more mechanisms for melting are being discovered to help us understand why the rates are quickening.

What's significant about Greenland's ice sheets is that they are land-based. They are not icebergs already in the water. If an iceberg melts, there won't be any rise. However, run-off water from land is new water in the ocean, and makes sea levels rise. 

Like Thanos in The Avengers, the conclusion of this study is significant rise is inevitable.

STARFORGE Astrophysical Simulations

 Friends with the CIERA Group at Northwestern University have been involved with the creation and running of STARFORGE simulation software, which provides the most detailed and accurate star formation simulations ever made and seen. You can check some out here, and learn more about what this simulation platform is. Below is NOT a photo from the Webb telescope, but rather a snapshot from a simulation!

'Quantum to Cosmos' powers of 10 resource

 An excellent Powers of 10 resource, which allows you to scan from the smallest (quantum realm) to the largest (cosmological) size scales is the Quantum to Cosmos site. Very useful and easy to use, and we in STEM can learn a lot from this!!