Name: Minuscule Mysteries
Start: 2026-05-19T19:30:00
End: 2026-05-19T21:30:00
Location: The Durell Arms

What are the Universe's building blocks? What are they made of? Both fundamental and exotic particles and molecules are known to make up our Universe and can even exist in the emptiness of space. Our speakers will uncover the mysteries of their origin, how they fit in our knowledge of the Universe, and why some of them don't obey the laws of Chemistry.

Everything, everywhere: what is the universe made of?

Dr Tevong You (Assistant Professor in Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology, King's College London)

We live in a time where we can give a precise, quantitative, and meaningful answer to the simple question: what is the universe made of? From atoms to humans, mountains to stars, and nebulae to galaxies, all visible matter and forces across the universe consist of particles from the Standard Model - our best verified "Theory of Everything" so far. I will introduce the Standard Model of particle physics. I then explain why we need a new Einstein or more experimental data to go beyond it, and why humanity's quest to ultimately discover a truly fundamental theory of the universe is not a mirage.

The Alien Chemistry of Interstellar Space

Professor Claire Vallance (Professor of Physical Chemistry, Univeristy of Oxford)

Astronomers have discovered over 300 different molecules in the “emptiness” of interstellar space. Some are so familiar you can find them in your local pub – from the water and ethanol in your drink to the acetic acid in the vinegar on your chips. Others seem to break all the rules of chemistry, and are so exotic that they simply cannot survive on Earth. Why do these molecules exist out in space? How did they form, and how do we know?

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