The Hidden Order of Life: How Nature Breaks Symmetry

The second annual Christine Mona Khademi lecture with Dr. Nikta Fakhri was held January 30, 2025.Living systems are in constant motion, from the inner workings of our cells to the synchronized movements of bird flocks. What sets these systems apart is that they are powered by tiny, energy-consuming components that generate their own movement and forces. In this talk, I’ll uncover the hidden rules that govern this dynamic behavior and explore how breaking certain physical symmetries, like the familiar flow of time, allows life to organize itself in unexpected ways. I will show how these discoveries help us understand the intricate patterns inside cells, reveal surprising new properties of living materials, and offer a fresh perspective on the physics that shapes the natural world around us.Nikta Fakhri is an associate Professor in the Department of Physics at MIT and Physics of Living Systems Group. She completed her undergraduate degree at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran and her PhD at Rice University, Houston, TX. She was a Human Frontier Science Program postdoctoral fellow at Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, Germany before joining MIT. Nikta is an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Physics. She is the recipient of the 2018 IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Biological Physics, the 2019 NSF CAREER Award, and the 2022 American Physical Society Early Career Award in Soft Matter Research.The annual "Christine Mona Khademi Lecture" at the Stanford Iranian Studies Program has been made possible through a generous gift from Monib Khademi, MBA '90. In memory of Christine Mona Khademi, B.S. '12, the lecture seeks to support and highlight the work of women in particular who are making substantial contributions to Iranian culture and society in the fields of politics, science, technology, public service, art, or culture.00:00-03:30: Introduction03:34-10:03: Monib Khademi Welcome10:13-49:50: Dr. Nikta Fakhri lecture49:51-1:25:58: Audience Q&A