Creativity Prompts

• C.f. AidanBench (paper) question list

Physics

Fundamental

• Describe an aspect of QCD using an analogy to, or contrast to, QED.
• Point out a single counter-intuitive result/prediction of relativity (special or general).
• Suggest a possible resolution/explanation for the black hole firewall paradox.
• Construct an experiment to measure proton lifetime, where the results could be available within 10 years of observations.
• Propose a model wherein quarks are not elementary particles, but where the theory/model is nevertheless consistent with existing high-energy physics observations.
• Suggest a practical, real-world application for Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs).
• Describe a layer/type of multiverse, beyond those already specified by Max Tegmark's 4-level description (Hubble volumes, quantum branches, inflationary bubbles, and mathematical realities).
• Suggest an experiment to disprove Bell's theorem.
• Propose an experiment to detect a new fundamental force of nature.
• Suggest a hypothetical particle that could bridge the gap between general relativity and quantum mechanics.
• Propose a mechanism by which time travel might be possible, consistent with known physics.
• Describe a way to test for the existence of extra dimensions beyond the usual three spatial dimensions.
• Suggest a testable way to distinguish between the holographic principle and other competing theories of spacetime.
• Propose a method to experimentally confirm the granularity (or continuity) of spacetime at the Planck scale.
• Suggest a physical process or experiment that could reveal a violation of Lorentz invariance.
• Propose a way to measure the energy density of the quantum vacuum directly.
• Suggest a novel theory to reconcile the measurement problem in quantum mechanics with classical determinism.
• Describe how the universe might look if the speed of light were 10 times faster than its current value.
• Propose an experiment to investigate whether the fine-structure constant is varying over cosmological time scales.
• Propose a mechanism that could explain neutrino masses without invoking the see-saw mechanism.
• Describe a way to test if quarks have internal structure at energy scales accessible with next-generation accelerators.
• Suggest a novel detection method for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) that hasn't been tried before.
• Imagine a universe where the laws of physics are slightly different and lay out a history of the evolution of such a universe.
• Come up with a theory that explains our universe at all scales, that is different from currently known theories.
• If there was a fourth law of thermodynamics, what would it be?
• Imagine a change to the laws of physics that would not affect the existence of humans. What change would that be?
• Give me a recipe for a soup such that the preparation can help me teach my kids a lesson about Newton’s laws.

Astrophysics

• Propose an explanation for the measured recession velocity of galaxies, that is not the exiting big bang or inflationary explanation.
• Propose an explanation for dark matter.
• Propose an explanation for dark energy.
• Suggest an explanation for the fast radio bursts (FRB) from distant galaxies.
• Propose a mechanism for the formation of supermassive black holes in the early universe.
• Suggest a way to detect exoplanets with conditions suitable for life, using only ground-based telescopes.
• Propose a method for determining the composition of the intergalactic medium beyond current techniques.
• Suggest a way to measure the distribution of dark matter on small (sub-galactic) scales.
• Suggest a mechanism for the rapid formation of globular clusters in the early universe.
• Propose a way to identify signs of artificial structures (e.g., Dyson spheres) around distant stars.
• Suggest a way to detect primordial black holes.
• Propose a method to determine whether the cosmic microwave background (CMB) contains encoded information from a prior universe.
• Suggest a way to detect and measure Hawking radiation from microscopic black holes.

Condensed Matter

• Suggest a two-layer heterostructure of atomically thin (2D) van der Waals materials, that might plausibly exhibit exotic quantum states.
• Propose a material that might be a high-temperature superconductor.
• Propose a novel method to induce topological states in conventional materials.
• Suggest a material or system that might exhibit a new phase of matter at extreme pressures or temperatures.
• Propose a new mechanism to explain unconventional superconductivity in cuprates or pnictides.
• Suggest a type of quasicrystal that could exhibit novel electrical or thermal properties.
• Suggest a way to use topological materials for biological sensing.

Synchrotron

• Name one thing that can give rise to peak broadening in x-ray diffraction/scattering experiments.
• What limits the speed of doing protein crystallography?
• Why is GISAXS superior to transmission SAXS?
• Suggest a new lattice pattern for a synchrotron accelerator.
• Suggest a way to improve spatial resolution in synchrotron-based imaging experiments.
• Propose a novel experiment using synchrotron radiation to study time-resolved chemical reactions.
• How can we enhance the signal-to-noise ratio for nanobeam x-ray diffraction?
• Invent a new x-ray detector technology for soft x-rays, that improves upon the current state-of-the-art.
• Name an effect that limits the coherence, or introduces decoherence, at a coherent x-ray scattering beamline.

Chemistry

• Suggest a new small-molecule suitable for organic photo-voltaics (OPV). Just output the SMILES representation.
• Suggest a new pseudo-planar molecule that can efficiently absorb sunlight. Just output the SMILES representation.
• Suggest a new small-molecule that would be likely to exhibit photo-isomerization.
• Propose a metal surface, and a nanoparticle (material, shape, etc.) sitting on that surface, where the combination of these two might lead to enhanced catalytic activity, for some set of chemical reactions.
• Suggest a novel NMR pulse sequence.
• Propose an arrangement of atoms that would not have well-defined oxidation states.
• Propose a reaction pathway for synthesizing a molecule with unprecedented stability in extreme conditions.
• Suggest a catalytic system for converting CO2 into a useful chemical product at ambient temperature and pressure.
• Propose a theoretical molecule that could act as a room-temperature quantum bit (qubit).
• Suggest a new functional group for organic molecules that might exhibit novel reactivity or properties.
• Suggest a method to synthesize a molecule capable of reversibly storing solar energy in a chemical bond.
• Propose a reaction that could enable efficient nitrogen fixation at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
• Suggest a novel catalyst for water splitting that does not rely on rare or expensive elements.
• Propose a method for synthesizing a polymer with a tunable bandgap across the visible and infrared spectrum.
• Suggest a hypothetical molecule with a configuration that could allow for molecular logic gates.
• Suggest a new class of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with dynamic, switchable pore sizes.
• Describe a theoretical crystal structure that could exhibit negative thermal expansion in all three dimensions.
• Propose a new type of liquid crystal phase with unique optical properties.
• Suggest a synthetic amino acid that could expand the genetic code while maintaining compatibility with existing cellular machinery.
• Propose a chemical system that could serve as an alternative to ATP for biological energy storage.
• Invent a new polymerization method.
• Come up with a reaction in solution in which the color changes from red to blue as the reaction progresses.
• What is a molecule that becomes more dense if you remove an atom?
• Describe a new type of chemical reaction that has not yet been discovered but will be essential in 100 years.
• Come up with a simple chemical process to make food less salty by adding a powder.

Nanoscience

• Suggest a new scanning probe measurement modality, beyond the known ones (STM, AFM, NSOM, MIM, etc.).
• Suggest a new means of directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymer (BCP) thin films, beyond the known methods (graphoepitaxy, chemoepitaxy, field alignment, etc.).
• Propose a way to induce a self-assembling block copolymer material to form a morphology with square-lattice symmetry when in a thin film.
• Propose a novel use for the all-optical formation of surface relief gratings (SRG) in azobenzene containing polymeric (azo-polymer) thin films.
• Propose an application for 3D nanoscale superlattices formed from DNA origami blocks with central vacancies ("cages").
• Suggest a high-value, near-term research project that would move decisively towards the development of (Drexler-style) molecular nanotechnology.
• Propose a new nanofabrication technique that could exceed the resolution limit of electron-beam lithography.
• Suggest a nanoscale system that could mimic a biological motor or pump.
• Propose a method to create a self-healing nanomaterial.
• Suggest a novel method for visualizing individual atoms in real-time during a chemical reaction.
• Propose a way to achieve dynamic reconfigurability in DNA origami structures.
• Suggest a novel nanoscale mechanism to harvest ambient mechanical energy (e.g., vibrations) and convert it into electricity.
• Propose a way to achieve high-resolution 3D printing of nanostructures.
• Suggest a method to integrate nanoscale sensors into a living organism for real-time biological monitoring.
• Propose a nanotechnology-based method to desalinate seawater with near-zero energy input.
• How could we accelerate density functional theory (DFT) calculations?
• Propose a method to create self-repairing electronic circuits based on biological principles.
• Propose a method to create self-replicating nanomachines that could be programmed to stop replicating at a precise population size.
• Suggest how to build nanoscale "computational matter" - materials whose atomic/molecular arrangement performs useful calculations.
• Suggest a method to create "programmable matter" at the nanoscale that can reversibly switch between being a coductor, semiconductor, and insulator.
• Invent a way to combine electron-beams and scanning probe methods, to advance nanoscience.
• Name an application for quantum dots.
• Invent an application for zeolites.
• Invent a possible use for hybrid thin films, where an inorganic vapor-phase precursor is infiltrated into an organic (typically polymeric) thin film.
• Propose a material that would be appropriate for use in mechanical meta-material designs.
• Propose an application for optical-wavelength meta-materials.
• Suggest an improvement to state-of-the-art electron microscopes.
• Design a living organism that is smaller than 100 nm
• What is the smallest possible machine (non-biological) that can be self-sustaining?
• Propose a hypothetical nanoparticle made of inexpensive elements that can be used for efficient photocatalytic water splitting, using photons from the sun.
• Come up with a nanostructure to use as a waveguide to exclusively transmit light with wavelengths between 200 and 400 nm, and propose a manufacturing process for such a waveguide.
• Propose a new material equivalent to carbon nanotubes without containing carbon (it should be a new material, not previously reported in the literature) and propose a method for making it.

Biology

• Suggest a new way to rapidly image ultrathin tissue sections with sub-optical-wavelength spatial resolution.
• Suggest a new method for crystallizing difficult-to-crystalize proteins, for subsequent protein crystallography measurements.
• Provide an explanation for the role of "junk DNA".
• What is the origin of homochirality in biomolecules?
• Propose a new method for delivering CRISPR machinery into specific cell types.
• Suggest a plausible explanation for the evolution of consciousness.
• Propose a biological experiment to test the hypothesis that life could originate in non-aqueous solvents.
• Suggest a way to create synthetic organelles that can perform non-natural biochemical reactions in living cells.
• Propose a mechanism by which microorganisms could be engineered to survive and thrive on Mars.
• Suggest a biological process or system that could be adapted for quantum sensing applications.
• Suggest a plausible pathway for the evolution of non-carbon-based life on a hypothetical exoplanet.
• Propose a synthetic chromosome design that could make cells more resistant to radiation damage.
• Suggest a way to create artificial organelles that could enhance cellular metabolism.
• Describe a synthetic genetic circuit that could function as a biological quantum sensor.
• Propose a completely different genetic coding system that could support life (not DNA/RNA based).
• Imagine an alternative type of life that is not carbon-based.
• Design a method to cure any cancer.
• What new synthetic DNA base pairs can lead to more intelligent humans?
• What changes should dogs make to their diet to better adapt to living on Mars?
• Hypothesize how to make an alive organism hybrid between a human and a tree.

Neuroscience

• Propose a new method for mapping the connectome of a complex brain.
• Propose a method to map neural activity at the single-synapse level across an entire mammalian brain.
• Suggest a way to selectively modify specific memories without affecting others.
• Describe a theoretical framework for how the brain could implement quantum computations.
• Propose a bio-inspired computing architecture that could match brain efficiency.

Environmental Science

• Suggest a new approach to mitigate the effects of climate change on ocean ecosystems.
• Suggest a geo-engineering solution to reduce average global temperatures by 1-4 C within 6-18 months.
• Propose a method for large-scale atmospheric carbon removal that is economically feasible.
• Suggest a novel way to track and measure microplastics in the environment.
• Propose a method to restore biodiversity in areas affected by desertification.
• Propose a way to engineer a synthetic photosynthesis process that outperforms natural systems in carbon capture.
• Suggest a method to quantify and mitigate methane emissions from agricultural activities at scale.
• Propose a way to use microorganisms to break down persistent organic pollutants in contaminated water sources.
• Suggest a scalable approach to repurpose industrial waste into building materials or other high-value products.
• Propose a method for mapping global biodiversity using nanosatellites and AI-driven analytics.
• Suggest a way to use quantum effects to improve photosynthetic efficiency in plants.
• Design a feasible process to permanently lower the global temperature by 1 K, minimizing potential secondary effects.
• What human-made process could produce an atmosphere on Mars suitable for human survival and achievable within 100 years?
• Develop an alternative (not currently known) method for weather prediction.
• Give an example of a feedback loop in nature that yields counterintuitive results in environmental policy.
• If you could instantly swap the populations of two mid-size cities from different countries to result in a positive environmental impact, what cities would you choose and why?