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If apocalyptic theories float your boat then this is the evening for you. We'll be discussing the Higgs boson and what it's told us about the potential catastrophic end to the universe, how the Large Hadron Colliders work (which according to certain sensationalist media headlines are definitely going to produce a black hole and destroy Earth), and finally how if we survive all that our sun might blast us with enough radiation to knock out all our communications and send us back to the dark ages. Don't worry though, a casual pint and some reassuring science is sure to make it all seem better!
Implications of the Higgs boson
Professor Bill Murray
(Department of Physics, University of Warwick)
The Higgs boson was discovered at CERN in 2012, instantly becoming an international superstar of a particle. Six years later we have had time to digest the news. Bill Murray, who was leading one of the teams involved in the discovery, will discuss the implications - what does the Higgs boson actually tell us about the Universe? It seems empty space is not empty at all - and worse a cosmic catastrophe may be waiting to destroy the entire Universe...
Looking at the universe with particle colliders
Professor Tim Gershon
(Department of Physics, University of Warwick)
Particle physics experiments at CERN provide new ways in which scientists can study the Universe. By doing so, we can attempt to answer important unresolved questions including why are we made of matter and not antimatter? Tim will explain how this is done, describe some of the latest highlights and suggest directions for future research.
What to do when the Sun throws a temper tantrum
Tishtrya Mehta
(Centre for Fusion, Space, and Astrophysics, University of Warwick)
Though it is often seen to be calm and shining on a (rare) British summer's day, the Sun is actually firing cosmic ammunition into space with beautiful, and potentially devastating, effects. We'll explore what is causing this phenomena, how it can affect us, and what can we do to prepare ourselves.
Using videos of real space footage, alongside a few props (including the highly respected scientific instrument, the party popper), we’ll be getting you involved to delve into the world of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, as we discuss the sun’s potential to knock us back to the dark ages.
Using videos of real space footage, alongside a few props (including the highly respected scientific instrument, the party popper), we’ll be getting you involved to delve into the world of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, as we discuss the sun’s potential to knock us back to the dark ages.
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