CHEMISTRY in the Universe: Featuring the Dinosaur Annex Music Ensemble
Schedule
Sat, 06 Jun, 2026 at 07:30 pm
UTC-04:00Location
60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138-1516, United States | Cambridge, MA
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Is the chemistry of our Earth the same as in space? Does the chemistry we hold in our hand inform us of the distant universe - and vice versa? Join an organic chemist, an astrochemist, and a live chamber ensemble to explore these questions through science and music!Professor Jeremiah Johnson of MIT researches molecular networks - and how we can take our knowledge of chemistry and polymers to create new structures that have never been seen before, transforming our lives. Professor Brett McGuire studies how nature creates complex molecules in the distant universe - confirming that Earth is not the only place where chemical creativity unfolds. Through these separate approaches, will we one day understand if life and earth are unique or an inevitable consequence of chemistry in the universe?
To explore our role as humanity in this picture, the scientists are joined by the musicians of the Dinosaur Annex Music Ensemble and the Multiverse Concert Series. They will perform live acoustic and electronic music that sheds light directly on scientific themes - and our relationship with them.
This performance brings the chemistry of the cosmos to life by merging live music with a playable universe. Over the course of the evening, we will run a 60-minute interactive visual simulation powered by the Genesis engine, developed by Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D. Supported by the NSF Center for Molecularly Optimized Networks (MONET), audiences will witness the story of matter in real-time—from the Big Bang to complex polymerization. Following the performance, attendees are invited to take part in an interactive gaming experience and impact assessment designed to bridge the gap between astrophysics and submicroscopic chemistry.
Together, will artists and scientists uncover the chemical connections that bind us to the universe?
Part of the Art of Polymers Project, made free by MONET: the Center for the Chemistry of Molecularly Optimized Networks
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Where is it happening?
60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138-1516, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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