On my way back to Boise from the first K2 Science Conference, a week-long conference on the K2 Mission, successor to the Kepler mission.
Although I had to leave only two days into the conference (gotta get back to teach about the Origins of Earth Life), I got to see some amazing talks.
Talks that really stick out in my mind include Natalie Batalha‘s talk about the frequency of Earth-like planets (one for every three Sun-like stars); Roberto Sanchis-Ojeda‘s talk on a disintegrating planet with a cometary tail; and Jim Fuller‘s talk about measuring magnetic fields deep in the hearts of red giant stars by studying waves on the stars’ surfaces. The burritos at Sandbar on State St. are also pretty amazing.
All in all, a dazzling conference in refreshing Santa Barbara, CA.