Her work tools are paper, pen and a whiteboard to use «when she needs to share ideas with others, discuss problems and look for solutions». Computers? «Yes, sometimes». Laura Foini fills everything with formulas and calculations – what is needed to study «systems out of equilibrium, my research sector, encompassed by the environment of statistical physics». It is a field in which this young researcher, born in 1984 in Brescia province, excels.

A web that passes through infinite intergalactic spaces, a dense cosmic forest illuminated by very distant lights and a huge enigma to solve. These are the picturesque ingredients of a scientific research – carried out by an international team composed of researchers from the International School for Adavnced Studies (SISSA) and the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, the Institute of Astronomy of Cambridge and the University of Washington – that adds an important element for understanding one of the fundamental components of our Universe:

A deep understanding of the irreversibility of the arrow of time cannot ignore the quantum nature of the world that surrounds us. This is the key result of the work carried out by Vincenzo Alba and Pasquale Calabrese of the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste, recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

An odour can trigger a memory, cause disgust or even save our lives. Nonetheless, although it is so important for our existence, olfaction still remains the most enigmatic of our senses. Its mysteries and marvels will be analysed by Nobel Prize Linda Buck during the ICTP-SISSA Colloquium open to the public, titled “Unraveling the sense of smell”. The American neurobiologist will share the main phases of forty years of research on the functioning of the olfactory system and its impact on emotions and behaviours. Buck will be in Trieste to participate in the “Conference on Frontiers in Olfaction” which will be held from 24 to 28 July at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics "Abdus Salam" (ICTP). The Colloquium will take place on Tuesday 25 July at 5:00 p.m at ICTP (Leonardo Da Vinci Building).

QUIET 2017 - Quantification of Uncertainty: Improving Efficiency and Technology - is focused on the review of recent mathematical, numerical, methodological advances and the development of new research directions for uncertainty quantification in the setting of partial differential equations with random inputs. As such, the workshop impacts the scientific, engineering, financial, economic, environmental, social, and commercial milieus, including modern themes such as data assimilation, data science and analytics.

The dichotomy concerns the so-called angular momentum (per unit mass), that in physics is a measure of size and rotation velocity. Spiral galaxies are found to be strongly rotating, with an angular momentum higher by a factor of about 5 than ellipticals. What is the origin of such a difference? An international research team investigated the issue in a study just published in The Astrophysical Journal. The team was led by SISSA Ph.D.

During a press conference held today at ICTP, Professor Stefano Fantoni announced that Trieste was finally selected to host the EuroScience Open Forum, the most important European event dedicated to science, technology, society and policy. The event will take place from 4 to 10 July 2020. Prof Fantoni declared: "We are looking forward to working with EuroScience to make Trieste 2020, with the theme 'Freedom for Science, Science for Freedom'.

The last event of SISSA SUMMER FESTIVAL 2017 will take place at SISSA's amphitheatre on Friday 14 July at 7 p.m. The Wind Orchestra of the Conservatorio G. Tartini, Trieste, will present a programme with music by Bob Mintzer, Jule Styne, Kenny Wheeler and many other authors. The concert will be held in the Main Hall in heavy weather. All interested are welcome! (Image: Pixabay)

"Women in Science. Some worldwide initiatives” is the title of the talk by Professor Silvina Ponce Dawson from Universidad de Buenos Aires scheduled for Thursday 13 July 2017. Professor Ponce Dawson is a physicist and member of the argentinian National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). The seminar is organized by SISSA's Committee for the wellbeing (CUG) and will take place in the 7th floor Big Meeting Room at 3:30 pm. All interested are welcome.