Ever wondered what the connection between the Big Bang, our Sun and nuclear reactors is? No? Well, here you will find out!
We will learn the fundamentals, how nuclear physics relates to our universe, our health and our energy production. In particular, we will cover:

1) Intro to nuclear physics: What is matter fundamentally made of? What even is an element? Why do protons stick together even though they are all positively charged?
2) Intro to radioactivity: Why are some elements stable and others not? How does stuff stop being radioactive?
3) Radioactivity and health: How radioactive is too radioactive? How can we protect ourselves from radiation? Here, we will measure the radioactivity all around us and test different shielding methods. On the flipside, how can radiation be helpful to image body parts or treat cancer? We could analyse medical images to find tumors!
4) How do nuclear reactors work? How can we handle nuclear waste? What leads to nuclear disasters and how can we prevent them? We could debate the pros and cons of nuclear power plants!
5) Alchemy! Or: how the universe can make new elements out of nothing. Here, we will understand how elements were formed during the Big Bang, how stars work and how super-heavy elements can be formed in exotic processes.
6) Fusion reactors: The future of energy production? Here, we will understand how fusion reactors work in theory, what hurdles exist in making it work, why fusion could be the future of energy production and what the current state of the technology is.

In this course, we will learn the basics of nuclear physics, starting from scratch, no prior knowledge required, only enthusiasm for the wonderful world of nuclear physics. You will understand how matter works, why radioactivity exists, both how we can use it for our health and society and how we can protect ourselves from it. Bring your favourite cup of coffee and let’s get to learning!