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The Earth may not be flat, but what about the Universe? Bring your cameras along on a trip along the curves of space. We will try to capture on film the curviest objects of all: supermassive black holes!
The shape of the universe
Professor Jason D. Lotay
(Professor of mathematics)
Since the work of Einstein, it has been clear that to understand gravity we need to describe the geometry or “shape” of the universe. Recently we have realized that geometry could even go further and help provide the tools to find a so-called Theory of Everything. This talk will be a short tour through various aspects of geometry, from the ancient Greeks to the present day and beyond, helping us to answer the question: what is the shape of the universe?
Photographing Black Holes
Dr Ziri Younsi
(Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship)
Black holes are some of the simplest and most enigmatic objects in nature, and are believed to power some of the most violent and energetic events in our Universe. However, evidence for their existence, whilst compelling, is indirect. The event horizon, within which not even light can escape, prohibits us from "seeing" a black hole, but its tremendous gravity influences nearby light and matter, warping space and time in its vicinity. I will discuss current work and international efforts to literally photograph a supermassive black hole, providing the first direct evidence of their existence.
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