Physics

Join us before the lecture for a casual get together to mingle and chat about science! You can get excited about the lecture, talk about previous lectures, indulge in completely unrelated science, whatever tickles your fancy! We'll hang out at The Board Room for about an hour and a half then make our way to the Powell Auditorium. There's no kitchen at the Board Room, so feel free to bring any snacks or dinner with you! There are, of course, drinks available. As this is a bar, this will be a 21+ unofficial gathering.

CONTINUUM • Opening Night Reception, Friday February 6 • 6-8 pm at Long View. Long View has long been one of the largest and coolest galleries in the city. For a while they were quiet but they seem to have revved it up again. This will be a nice informal outing on a Friday evening. About the Artists & Exhibition / Chris Zidek & Nathan Brown Continuum explores abstraction as a state of constant transition. Working across sculpture and painting, Chris Zidek and Nathan Brown investigate how form, material, and perception shift over time through systems of structure, repetition, and change. Zidek’s sculptural works combine layered wood, mirrored surfaces, and automotive paint to create reflective objects that shift with light and movement. The sculptures engage the surrounding space and the viewer, emphasizing change, repetition, and visual flux. Brown’s acrylic paintings use geometric abstraction and subtle gradients to construct rhythmic compositions and continual growth. Through precise layering and color transitions, his work suggests motion and dimension within controlled systems, balancing clarity with softness. Together, the works in Continuum propose abstraction as a process of becoming, where form, material, and perception exist along an unbroken line of transformation.

This Happy Hour is devoted to professionals in the International Affairs and Development community, to grow, interact, and learn from each other. It is designed to provide a professional environment to meet other International Affairs professionals to broaden one's career. It is also for those interested in International Affairs and Development careers and are studying or intend to enter the dynamic world of global development. HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented INDUSTRIES/SECTORS/SPECIALIZATIONS and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All industries are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular field, you would like to exchange experience. PLEASE BRING YOUR SOFT/HARD COPY BUSINESS CARDS. Rules to abide : 1\. Event is 21\+ \(bring ID\)\. 2\. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well\. 3\. We all specialize in one or two fields and be willing to engage others and try to accommodate as much as possible\. 4\. If you don't specialize in the other person's required discipline\, LEAVE THEM ALONE\. 5\. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion\. 6\. This is a face\-to\-face event\. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting\, by using the comment box or direct message\. 7\. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box\. Since it sends notification to all attendees\. If you have any questions\, send a message to the organizers\. Don't write in the comment box\. 8\. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation\. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event\. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via \(info@merevents\.com\)\. 9\. When you get there\, we greet you and take you to your respective group\. 10\. Don't be shy of your specializations\. We have diplomates assigned to different countries\, who would love to learn more from your experience\. 11. ***Please be patient for the first 30 minutes, up until we form a group with your respective industry/sector.*** ***AFTER THE SOCIAL, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** ***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).***

This Happy Hour is devoted to professionals in the International Affairs and Development community, to grow, interact, and learn from each other. It is designed to provide a professional environment to meet other International Affairs professionals to broaden one's career. It is also for those interested in International Affairs and Development careers and are studying or intend to enter the dynamic world of global development. HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented INDUSTRIES/SECTORS/SPECIALIZATIONS and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All industries are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular field, you would like to exchange experience. PLEASE BRING YOUR SOFT/HARD COPY BUSINESS CARDS. Rules to abide : 1\. Event is 21\+ \(bring ID\)\. 2\. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well\. 3\. We all specialize in one or two fields and be willing to engage others and try to accommodate as much as possible\. 4\. If you don't specialize in the other person's required discipline\, LEAVE THEM ALONE\. 5\. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion\. 6\. This is a face\-to\-face event\. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting\, by using the comment box or direct message\. 7\. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box\. Since it sends notification to all attendees\. If you have any questions\, send a message to the organizers\. Don't write in the comment box\. 8\. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation\. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event\. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via \(info@merevents\.com\)\. 9\. When you get there\, we greet you and take you to your respective group\. 10\. Don't be shy of your specializations\. We have diplomates assigned to different countries\, who would love to learn more from your experience\. 11. ***Please be patient for the first 30 minutes, up until we form a group with your respective industry/sector.*** ***AFTER THE SOCIAL, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** ***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).***

Join PSW Science® on February 6 at 8 PM as we welcome Stephen Eckel, Group Leader at Fundamental Thermodynamics Group, Sensor Sciences Division NIST. During the question and answer period, in-person attendees and live stream viewers may ask the speaker questions, and in-person attendees may also engage with the speaker during the post-lecture reception. Refreshments are served. For more information on this meeting, please visit: https://pswscience.org/meeting/2530/ The meeting will be held in the John Wesley Powell Auditorium, adjacent to the Cosmos Club. The Powell Auditorium is located at 2170 Florida Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008. Use of the Cosmos Club is restricted to the Powell Auditorium, the entryway to the auditorium, and the restrooms immediately outside the auditorium. Please note there is no onsite parking available. PSW Science, founded in 1871, is one of the oldest scientific societies in Washington D.C. Now, over 150 years later, we celebrate the Society's rich history and contributions to scientific discovery and cross-disciplinary collaboration. For information on how to become a member of PSW Science and membership benefits, please visit https://pswscience.org/join/

Title: Biology-Inspired Neural Networks with Multi-Directional Propagation of Values and Distributions Date: Feb 8 2026 10:00 am - Noon EST Summary: While biological axons can propagate in both directions, current ANNs are focused on unidirectional propagation. Also usually they only propagate values, while uncertainty is shown also crucial for making decisions of biological organisms - suggesting to propagate also variance, probability distributions. I will talk about novel KAN-like approach to ANNs repairing these lack by using neurons containing inexpensive local joint distribution model as polynomial, allowing to freely change propagation direction by just switching indexes, also propagate entire probability distributions represented by vectors of moments. Beside backpropagation, it also allows many additional training approaches, like direct estimation, tensor decomposition, and through information bottleneck. Speaker: Dr Jarek Duda is an assistant professor at Jagiellonian University. He holds degrees in computer science (PhD), mathematics (MSc) and physics (PhD). He is mainly focused on physics foundations, information theory, statistical analysis, and is known for introduction of asymmetric numeral systems. Moderators: Dr. Pawel Gora, CEO of Quantum AI Foundation and Dr. Sebastian Zajac , member of QPoland Zoom registration form will be provided no later than 1 hour prior to the event's start time.

Date : Feb 7 2026 13:00 - 15:00 EST Title: Symmetry, Topology, and Magnetoelectric Multiferroicity — Ferroelectric 'Tweezers' for Quantum Magnetism in Hexagonal Ferrites Abstract: The scalability of future quantum and spintronic hardware is currently facing a "physical wall": the challenges of excessive heat dissipation and environmental magnetic noise. To overcome these barriers, materials where magnetism can be controlled with high precision and minimal energy will be highly desirable. Magnetoelectric multiferroic hexagonal rare-earth ferrites (h-RFeO3, R: rare earth) have emerged as an important platform for this mission, offering a unique "playground" where symmetry and topology dictate functionality. In this talk, I will provide a comprehensive overview of research progress on these materials over the last decade. We will explore how a specific structural transition—trimerization—breaks symmetry to create a robust state known as improper ferroelectricity as well as weak ferromagnetism. The coupling between the ferroelectric and magnetic orders leads to a "ferroelectric tweezer" effect, where the material's ferroelectric domain spatially anchors and manipulates magnetic domains. Furthermore, we will address the "readout challenge": how to detect the diminutive magnetic moments inherent in these systems. I will show how the non-coplanar spin topology acts as a signal amplifier, enabling high-fidelity readout of magnetic states through spin-transport. By understanding the "solid science" of these complex oxides, we can define the roadmap for a new generation of stable, low-power topological electronics. Biography: Xiaoshan Xu is Susan J. Rosowski Associate Professor from Department of Physics and Astronomy at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He graduated from Nanjing University in 1997 and 2000 with his bachelor’s and master’s degrees respectively. He received his Ph. D. in Georgia Institute of Technology in 2007. After that, he worked at the University of Tennessee as a postdoctoral researcher and Oak Ridge National Lab as an R&D Associate. He joined the University of Nebraska in 2013. He is a recipient of the Eugene P. Wigner Fellowship of the Oak Ridge National Lab, NSF Early Career Award, and DOE Early Career Award. His research interests include oxide and organic thin film growth, spintronics, multiferroics, and quantum materials. Moderator: Dr. Sebastian Zajac, member of QPoland

It's going to be stupid cold & windy on Saturday afternoon & evening. So warm up by dancing and singing along with the **Blue Book Value Band** (https://bluebookvalueband.com/) at world famous **JV's Restaurant** in Falls Church (www.jvsrestaurant.com). Blue Book Value have been playing in the Washington, DC metro area since 1996. In addition to rhythm &blues and swing, they play a bit of rock n' roll, as well as popular songs making them a hugely versatile band. Their set list ranges from Ray Charles, Etta James, Otis Redding & Aretha Franklin to Pink, Alanis Morrisette, The B52s & Lynyrd Skynyrd. JV's Restaurant has been serving up drinks, food, and live music since 1947. It has been voted Washington DC area's best dive bar and for darn good reason. There food is good, drinks are cold, the stage hosts live bands seven days a week, and the dance floor is always full.

Whether you practice divination, ritual work or more craft related activities… this series of classes taught on two Sundays of each month will help you explore various aspects related to sharing your gifts in the physical and virtual marketplace. This week, we'll briefly review our previous class homework on Defining My Brand, then we’ll jump into this week’s class, on Marketing & Services through... * Building an online presence (website, social media, email list) * Sharing authentic content: tips, rituals, and insights * Designing promotional materials and visuals * Collaborating with other practitioners and local businesses * Hosting free events or sample readings to attract clients Newcomers are encouraged to attend, and individual virtual classes are available for those who may have missed a class along the way by contacting Papa Bones Moon. Cost: $25 / Please check-in & pay once you arrive at Sticks & Stones.

## 🌇 Golden Hour: A Curated Singles Night (Ages 42–56) **Part of the *Cuffed by Cupid* Match Series** 💘 A winter singles series leading up to Valentine’s Day. 🗓 **Saturday, November 22** ⏰ **8:00 – 10:00 PM** 📍 **Eighteenth Street Lounge — Washington, DC (Indoor Lounge)** **Tickets**: https://matchandmeet-goldenhour-february.eventbrite.com *** At this stage in life, you know what matters — and you value your time. **Golden Hour** is a curated singles night for adults ages 42–56 who want meaningful conversation, thoughtful connection, and a relaxed, stylish night out. Whether you’re new to the DMV, re-entering the dating scene, or simply open to meeting like-minded people, this event is designed to feel comfortable, intentional, and genuinely enjoyable. This is not speed dating and not a loud mixer where you’re left on your own. It’s structured just enough to help connections happen naturally — and relaxed enough to feel like a great evening out. *** ### 🎟️ IMPORTANT: Tickets Required RSVPing “Yes” on Meetup does **not** guarantee entry. All attendees must purchase a ticket on Eventbrite to attend. (The ticket link will be shared in the event comments and confirmation message.) **Tickets**: https://matchandmeet-goldenhour-february.eventbrite.com *** ### 💫 How It Works • Arrive, check in, and enjoy a drink • Complete a short compatibility questionnaire on your phone • Our Matchbox system uses values, goals, and personality to curate up to **3 matches** • Matches are revealed in relaxed rounds throughout the evening • Plenty of time to mingle with the full group before and after No pressure. No awkward games. Just real conversation in a welcoming space. *** ### ⏰ Event Schedule **8:00 PM** – Arrival, check-in, drinks at the bar **8:15 PM** – Compatibility questionnaire opens **8:45 PM** – Match groups revealed **9:00 PM** – Match #1 **9:20 PM** – Match #2 **9:40 PM** – Match #3 **10:00 PM** – Guests welcome to continue mingling 👉 Please arrive by **8:30 PM** to be included in matchmaking. *** ### 🌟 Who It’s For Singles ages **42–56** who value meaningful conversation, emotional intelligence, and intentional connection. Guests within **±2 years** of the age range are welcome (e.g., 40 or 58). *** ### 👔 Dress Code Polished and date-night ready. Business casual, smart casual, or semi-formal attire encouraged. Sweaters, blazers, cocktail dresses, and fall layers are all welcome — just come comfortable and confident. *** ### 📋 What You’ll Need • A smartphone with internet access • Arrival by 8:30 PM for matchmaking • An open mindset — we’ll guide the rest *** ### 🛡️ Safety, Access & Policies • Event is held on a **second-floor indoor lounge (stairs only; limited accessibility)** • This is a **safe, respectful, and inclusive space** • Harassment or disruptive behavior will result in removal without refund • Photos and video may be taken for community promotion • Refunds available up to **4 days before the event** (Eventbrite policy applies) *** ### 💬 Why Golden Hour Works This is for people who want real conversation, shared perspective, and connection that fits where they are in life — without rushing or pressure. 📸 Follow along: **@dmv.experiences**

Let's check out a Popular Astronomy and Science Based Film at COSI Science Center on their HUGE 360 Degree 4K Spherical Dome Screen Theater, in which is touring the nation and has already sold over 10,000 tickets! COSI is one of the leading Science Centers in America. Alan Watts was one of the Most Influential Amateur Astronomers of the 20th Century and held fascinating views of the Galaxy. Tickets are only $33 plus a small fee and taxes and can be purchased here: [Trust the Universe: Immersive Dome Show](https://www.sphericalpictures.com/tickets) PLEASE purchase tickets for the 8:15 PM Feature on Friday, February 13. There seem to be at least 10 tickets left, possibly more. We should be able to sit together in the same row or at least in the general section. This is an exciting chance to view actual footage of the Solar System on a Large 4k Resolution Screen plus added in Cosmological and Astronomical Related Philosophy! We will plan on meeting at about 7:50 PM by the Atomic Cafe on the first Floor of COSI, where the Movie Theater is located, in order to give us time before the show starts to purchase refreshments. Parking is available at the COSI Garage and in the area on side streets and adjacent garages. We can also walk somewhere in the area and get food afterwards, if anyone wants to do so. Thanks and hope to see you come out!

I hope you'll join me at [Carfagna's](https://carfagnas.com/) AMAZING complex on Gemini/Polaris. *Live, local acoustic music during dinner.* Come by early for happy hour til 6pm. Or, join us for dinner; show time is 6-9PM, Thursday. No Cover. Reservation at 6pm for 12 under Michele Z (overflow can linger near the bar). Each Thursday they host live music in their beautiful upscale bar at **Carfagna's Ristorante**; but you need to check out everything this place has to offer Italian under one roof!!

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

**Caller: Dan Kappus** **Band: Trillium** **Big Scioty Contra Dance** **temporarily returning to our long ago location for Jan-March - First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 7:30 - 8:00, followed by dancing 8:00 - 10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. For more information contact me or check out our website: [www.bigscioty.com](http://www.bigscioty.com/) Please bring your own refillable water bottle. Snacks to share are always welcome!

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia