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Despite our place on a pretty boring rock in a pretty average galaxy, we've managed to look out at some of the most extreme and unlikely events in the Universe. We'll be having talks from researchers at Cardiff University's school of Physics and Astronomy tackling two very different questions; firstly, how would we go about searching for life on other planets? On the other end of the scale, we’ll be diving into some of nature’s most energetic events, the interactions that give off Gravitational Waves.
Hunting for Life in the Universe
Dr Jane Greaves
(Reader)
Many planets outside the solar system are being discovered that are in some
ways Earth-like. We also know now of life here on Earth that enjoys extreme
conditions, such as living in boiling water or acid. I will talk about what the broad
signatures of Earth-life are, and how we can use astronomy to search for these
signatures on other planets. I will discuss some ongoing work: how do you build
a planet in the first place and make sure it has some of the chemistry needed
before biology can take place? Finally, is there is advanced (communicating) life
within a conversing distance?
ways Earth-like. We also know now of life here on Earth that enjoys extreme
conditions, such as living in boiling water or acid. I will talk about what the broad
signatures of Earth-life are, and how we can use astronomy to search for these
signatures on other planets. I will discuss some ongoing work: how do you build
a planet in the first place and make sure it has some of the chemistry needed
before biology can take place? Finally, is there is advanced (communicating) life
within a conversing distance?
Nature’s Biggest Explosions: Gravitational Waves
Professor Patrick Sutton
(Research Group Leader, Gravitational Physics Research Group)
Gravitational waves -- ripples in the fabric of spacetime -- are produced by some
of the most violent events in the Universe, such as colliding black holes and
exploding stars. They carry tremendous amounts of energy, but their effects are
so tiny that it's only in the last few years that we've developed the technology
required to detect the waves. I'll talk about the amazing technology used to detect
gravitational waves, and how we're using this new tool to study Nature's most
extreme environments.
of the most violent events in the Universe, such as colliding black holes and
exploding stars. They carry tremendous amounts of energy, but their effects are
so tiny that it's only in the last few years that we've developed the technology
required to detect the waves. I'll talk about the amazing technology used to detect
gravitational waves, and how we're using this new tool to study Nature's most
extreme environments.
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