The science of pop culture is the focus of a new weekly lecture series offered by the University Libraries.

The series, “Sci Pop Talks! Where Science Intersects Pop Culture,” opens Feb. 26 and will be offered at 7 p.m. every Wednesday through April 23 in the Love Library Mezzanine Study Room (room 201). The talks will explore the science within some favorite icons of popular culture and be delivered by science faculty from UNL and Doane College.

The series opens Feb. 26 with Marilyn Schnepf discussing “The Story of Chocolate: Nutrition and Sensory Qualities.” Schnepf is a professor of food science and technology, and nutrition and health sciences.

Talks in the series are free and open to the public.

Other lectures will examine how to use chemistry to survive a zombie apocalypse; applying game theory to decisions made by Walter White, character in the television show “Breaking Bad;” and decoding the interview with a vampire from Anne Rice’s famous series of novels.

An online guide on the talks and associated reading lists is available at http://unl.libguides.com/scipoptalks.

“The faculty members and I that planned this talk series think it will be very popular because topics like zombies and vampires have gained in popularity over the last few years,” said Joan Barnes, community engagement librarian.

The schedule of “Sci Pop Talks! Where Science Intersect Pop Culture” is listed below. The series is sponsored by the University Libraries, UNL’s Department of Chemistry and Doane College.

• Feb. 26 — “The Story of Chocolate: Nutrition and Sensory Qualities,” Marilynn Schnepf, UNL

• March 5 — “Chemistry to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse,” Raychelle Burks, Doane College

• March 12 — “Alien Biochemistry in the Movies,” Mark Griep, UNL

• March 19 — “Making ‘Inception’ Real,” Ramesh Laungani, Doane College

• April 2 — “Discovering the Hidden Truth: Forensics,” Ashley Hall, UNL

• April 9 — “Book 8: Harry Potter and the Magic of Science,” Rebecca Lai, UNL

• April 16 — “Game Theory and ‘Breaking Bad,’” Kristopher Williams, Doane College

• April 23 — “ ‘Interview with the Vampire:’ Decoded by Scientists,” Rebecca Lai, UNL