The Lonely Idea

What inspires Caltech’s scientists and engineers in the pursuit of pathbreaking discoveries? Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum offers his perspective on the Institute’s formula for success, including the value of the humanities and the importance of cultivating a diverse community. He shares his own scientific journey, along with the opportunities he sees ahead for Caltech in disciplines such as sustainability, climate science, astronomy, biomedicine, and quantum physics.

 Thomas F. Rosenbaum is the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and Professor of Physics at Caltech.

How did a love of history lead to a breakthrough career that, among other things, successfully took the body temperatures of dinosaurs? Caltech geochemist John Eiler talks about how he revived a neglected field to determine the isotopic structures of natural molecules and solve problems in Earth history, environmental science, and planetary science along the way.

John Eiler is the Robert P. Sharp Professor of Geology and Geochemistry at Caltech.

Is there evidence for supersymmetry? Maria Spiropulu is in search of the elusive partner particles predicted by the theory of supersymmetry. That, in turn, would shed light on mysteries such as dark matter. The renowned Caltech physicist talks about her role in building a detector to fulfill this quest, which cuts across particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Maria Spiropulu is the Shang-Yi Ch'en Professor of Physics at Caltech.

How did a tiny aquatic animal inspire a smartphone application to monitor cardiovascular health? Caltech alumnus, inventor and bio-, aeronautical, and mechanical engineer Mory Gharib connects the dots between watching a newborn zebrafish grow and mapping out the human heart.

Mory Gharib is the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bioinspired Engineering, the Booth-Kresa Leadership Chair and Director of the Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies, and Director of the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories at Caltech.

Can technology borrowed from biological studies reveal the ways in which gender and other factors influence how humans choose? Caltech neuroeconomist Colin Camerer takes us behind the scenes, describing how he gains a deeper understanding of decision-making behaviors by looking inside the brain as choices are made.

Colin Camerer is the Robert Kirby Professor of Behavioral Economics and the T&C Chen Center for Social and Decision Neuroscience Leadership Chair and Director at Caltech.

What do telephone wires have to do with DNA? Caltech chemist Jackie Barton reveals how looking at the molecule as a communication tool led to a breakthrough in understanding the electron transfer reactions. These reactions are fundamental to processes such as how we breathe air and break down food. They also can be used to find mistakes in DNA associated with cancer and other diseases.

Jackie Barton is the John G. Kirkwood and Arthur A. Noyes Professor of Chemistry at Caltech.

While traditionally considered notorious, what if some bacteria actually help the immune system rather than harm it? Caltech microbiologist Sarkis Mazmanian describes his efforts to harness the good bugs in our guts to improve health for people with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and autism—his idea once dismissed as a "hunch" but now gaining acceptance from scientists and society.

Sarkis Mazmanian is the Luis B. and Nelly Soux Professor of Microbiology and a Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator at Caltech.

In The Lonely Idea podcast series, six Caltech faculty members talk with host Rich Wolf about what can happen when sparks of innovation have the chance to become popular science. Listen to the trailer.