His research focuses on laser peening, a technology that uses ultra-short nanosecond laser pulses to extend the lifespan of metal components. The technique has applications in fields such as 3D printing, toolmaking, aerospace engineering and the nuclear industry. As Jan Kaufman puts it: “A laser beam is like a blacksmith, strengthening components and helping them last longer.”
In his spare time, he turns a critical scientific eye to his favourite films, hunting for physics mistakes. From flying buses and curving bullets to impossibly sharp zoom-ins, X-ray glasses and distorted gravity in space, he enjoys spotting the many ways cinema bends the laws of science and nature.
