This talk will discuss old theory and new experiments on a Josephson junction array in the form of a dice (or T3) lattice. Theoretically, in this geometry, Aharonov-Bohm interference localizes Cooper leading to a vanishing superfluid stiffness at full frustration (one half flux per plaquette). Nonetheless, we observe superconductivity in at full frustration (as have others). We discuss alternative interpretations.

To address pressing issues in our built and natural environments, architects and designers must develop new models that respond to social, environmental, and technological imperatives. This shift requires a departure from traditional research toward hybrid, transdisciplinary approaches and collaborative frameworks. Advances in computation, visualization, material intelligence, and fabrication are transforming how we design and build across disciplines and scales, forging new intersections between the digital, physical, and biological realms.

This lecture presents ongoing research spanning biology, materials science, mathematics, fiber science, fashion, engineering, and architecture. Sabin’s work investigates material and formal intersections among architecture, science, and emerging technologies, revealing nonlinear modes of fabrication and self-assembly that operate from surface to structure. These projects open new possibilities for redefining architecture within broader frameworks of generative design, sustainability, and advanced fabrication. This lecture will highlight methodologies, prototypes, and architectural projects developed by Sabin and collaborators, including adaptive building skins, textile and ceramic assemblies, and responsive architectural systems that dynamically reconfigure their own performance in response to local environmental conditions and human interaction.

Airborne microbes critically impact our lives, from the spread of diseases to rainfall and food production. Yet the survival of microbes during aerosolization and atmospheric transport is not well understood. Although bacteria have been found in the atmosphere, even larger organisms such as nematodes and spiders can drift in the air for many kilometers. In this talk, I will discuss two research projects where we investigate how the atmosphere plays a crucial role in micro- and meso-scale ecology. I will show how salt and humidity help bacteria survive during desiccation. In dried droplets on flat surfaces, the spatial structure generated by the dried film can trap water to facilitate survival. 3D Bacterial suspensions dried under acoustic levitation survive even better. In a separate project, I will discuss how jumping, parasitic nematodes rely on electrostatic forces to infect their insect hosts. A model combining electrostatics, aerodynamics, and Bayesian inference indicates that the electrostatic charge on jumping nematodes is ~ 0.1 pC, which aligns with theoretical predictions for electrostatic induction. In fact, we show that infection through jumping may necessitate electrostatic forces as a successful evolutionary strategy.

Replaced by Center for Living Systems student-organized special lecture.