Taming Light: How Brightness, Color, and Direction Power the Modern World

Dr. Brandon Mitchell, Professor of Physics and Engineering says:
Light is more than something that lets us see—it is one of the most powerful tools humans have learned to control. In this Science on Tap workshop, we’ll explore what light actually is, how predictable its behavior can be, and how that predictability allows us to use it in everyday technologies. Through live demonstrations, we’ll see how controlling the brightness, color (frequency), and direction of light makes it possible to transmit information quickly and accurately—across cities, under the ocean through fiber-optic cables, and even through space via satellites. Along the way, we’ll connect these ideas to familiar technologies such as the internet, satellite communication, and microwave ovens, revealing how a few simple physical principles quietly run much of the modern world.