The global positioning system GPS has become the first application in everyday life for which effects of Einstein's theories of special and general relativity play a crucial role. This and other technological advances have spurred a renewed interest in experimental tests of relativity. I will introduce the concept of relativistic time dilation (the fact that moving clocks tick more slowly) and present our latest experiment which tests time dilation with unprecedented accuracy.
The slides of the talk.

The first precise measurements of atomic masses provide the data necessary to understand the complex network of nuclear reactions that powered quiescently burning stars. The elements that make up our observable universe were cooked up f rom primordial hydrogen in these nuclear furnaces. However, the observed abundance of the elements cannot be explained solely by these steady state processes; explosive astrophysical events must also play an important role in the synthesis of the elements. Recent technological advances have provided us with a new type of mass spectrometer using ion traps that enables us to determine the masses of nuclei with extraordinary sensitivity and precision. The exotic nuclei that participate in these nuclear reactions are now accessible to scientific examination and new results are shedding some light on how the elements were synthesized in these explosive processes.
The slides of the talk.

In the 19^th century, men of science were all fascinated by the relation between magnetism and electricity, from which was to evolve both the electric and telecommunication industries. Currently, this topic has been transformed from a macroscopic to a microscopic level by studying the interplay between spins and charges. Research performed in this new direction focusing on the spintronics might revolutionize today's electronics industry. In this talk, I will begin with a brief history of the electromagnetism. In particular, we will learn about the ground breaking experiment performed by Michael Faraday in 1831 where he constructed the world's first dynamo. Then I am going to explain our recent work performed at the University of Manitoba where we constructed a spin dynamo. Here, Faraday's rotating copper disk is replaced by processing spins. The spin dynamo may find application in wireless communications. Perhaps one day, we will no longer be annoyed by forgetting to charge the battery in our cell phones, --- by using the spin dynamo, our cell phones could be powered simply by microwaves energies nowadays wasted in the air.

Topological defects are configurations of matter that are stable against small perturbations and cannot be undone or be de-tangled in a continuous manner. These defects can be classified according to a topological charge. Examples include vortices in quantum liquids, dislocations in solids and liquid crystals, and vortices in magnets. The defects are believed to be responsible for phase transitions in condensed matter systems as well as in the formation of the early universe.
The slides of the talk.

Several of Jupiter's moons are believed to harbour oceans of liquid water beneath their icy surfaces. By far, the most interesting of these moons is Europa. I will discuss the internal structure of Europa, with special emphasis on the structure and composition of its ocean and the intriguing dynamics of its ice crust. I will conclude with some speculations on Europa as a target for astrobiology research.

Physics programs at the University of Manitoba.
The slides of the talk.