Integrated Calendar

Mesoscale eddies dominate global ocean kinetic energy and are responsible for efficiently transferring ocean properties. The influence of ocean eddies in the western boundary currents on storm tracks has been studied in recent years, and their importance in regulating mid-latitude precipitation is now recognized. Unlike western boundary currents, mesoscale eddies in the Mediterranean Sea (MS) are smaller and less intense. Yet, the MS is rich in mesoscale activity, and its proximity to densely populated regions suggests that even a small change may have a large impact, which remains underexplored. In this talk, I present several recent studies in which we investigated the interactions between mesoscale eddies and cyclones in the Mediterranean region. These studies focused on specific Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones (medicanes), analyzing their evolution under different sea conditions using observations and model simulations. We find that mesoscale eddies in the MS can change the intensity and track of cyclones and, consequently, affect their resulting rainfall distribution over land. In general, warm-core eddies tend to intensify cyclones and increase precipitation above them relative to cold-core eddies. Additionally, we observe a general increase in surface ocean biogeochemical properties, such as phytoplankton and chlorophyll, following cyclone passages. This increase is driven by upwelling and vertical mixing, though the relative importance of these processes differs between warm- and cold-core eddies.

Understanding the input-output function of principal cortical neurons and their role in network dynamics is a key milestone in decoding how information is represented and processed in the cortex. Pyramidal neurons act as complex computational units, integrating the activity of thousands of synaptic inputs and transforming them into output patterns. These computations are primarily carried out within an elaborate dendritic tree, which receives extensive synaptic input and converts it into a neural code. However, the nature of dendritic computations in vivo during behaviorally relevant tasks remains unclear.In this talk, I will present our recent findings on the dendritic mechanisms used by layer 5 pyramidal tract (PT) neurons to encode motor information in vivo during various motor tasks. Using two-photon calcium imaging in head-fixed mice, along with a custom experimental and analytical pipeline, we achieved unprecedented resolution in correlating dendritic structure with function. I will discuss how different types of PT neurons process and represent motor information, how these properties are shaped during learning, and the role of thalamocortical inputs in modulating both learning and representation.

Classical computers use stable and long-lived units of information, called bits, to perform computations. In contrast, quantum computers rely on qubits. The downside is that qubits are intrinsically much more prone to error. Two of the biggest challenges in building a practical quantum computer are extending the lifetime of qubits and better detection of errors. In this seminar, I will present our recent work on improving by an order of magnitude the coherence time of a superconducting qubit. A key aspect of this breakthrough was the creation of a large Schrödinger cat state with more than 1,000 photons, which can be used for error correction in quantum systems. In the second part of the talk, I will introduce a novel method for real-time error detection, where we continuously monitor the state of a superconducting element to detect and correct qubit dephasing as it occurs. These developments are important steps towards improving the reliability and performance of quantum systems.

Microbial communities act as living sensors of their environment, continuously adapting to and recording changes in their surroundings across temporal and spatial scales. This capacity, combined with their central role in global biogeochemical cycles, makes microbes ideal indicators of ecosystem health. However, our understanding of how these communities respond to anthropogenic perturbations remains limited. In this talk, I will present two complementary approaches to decode environmental information from microbial communities. First, I will show that environmental temperature can be accurately predicted from microbial DNA composition alone, revealing fundamental principles of genome-wide thermal adaptation that transcend ecosystem boundaries. This work uncovers how evolutionary pressures shape microbial genomes across diverse habitats and provides insights into long-term community responses to climate change. Second, I will introduce a novel approach for measuring real-time bacterial growth rates in natural environments from a single sample, without prior knowledge on community composition. This method could enable us to track immediate ecological responses to environmental perturbations. By combining these evolutionary and ecological perspectives, we can begin to establish universal principles governing microbial responses to environmental change across different timescales. This multi-scale understanding is crucial for predicting and potentially mitigating the impacts of human activities on microbial ecosystems, from soil degradation to climate change.FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND CONTENT ON SOFT MATTER AND BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS AT THE WEIZMANN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.biosoftweizmann.com/