Too Big to Ignore, Too Small to See!

In the beginning, there was light—but why, and how? Why are we here at all, and what does the future hold for our galaxy? In this talk, I will explore these questions by describing the origin of the Universe, its evolution over cosmic time, and the ideas we use today to understand its ultimate fate.

Proteins are the architects of life, acting as tiny molecular robots with essential functions such as digestion or defense against disease. To work, they must fold into a specific shape, like origami, but sometimes they face internal conflicts—a phenomenon known as structural frustration. Far from being a problem, this frustration guides evolution, and when it becomes unbalanced, it can cause disease. In this talk, we will explore how proteins find their ideal shape and how studying them helps us understand life, treat diseases, and design new therapies.