Hunting the Ghost Particles in the Dark Universe

Prof. Yuhsin Tsai
Tuesday March 29th 2022 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Neutrinos were first detected more than six decades ago, and are among the most abundant particles in the universe. However, they remain among the most mysterious. How heavy are they? How long can they live? Can they interact with each other with a yet-unknown force? These questions are usually difficult to answer using particle detectors on earth. Prof. Yushin Tsai, the Tom and Carolyn Marquez assistant professor of physics, will describe how physicists can use the whole universe as a particle detector to hunt for information about these ghost particles in nature.

There has been a recent change to the University COVID-19 protocols. The updated protocols are highlighted below.

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Masks are now optional on campus for all students, faculty, staff and visitors, including at indoor events.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

The Next Decade in Astronomy

Prof. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday March 1st 2022 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The James Webb Space Telescope, launched in December 2021, is a powerful new tool astronomers will be able to use to study the universe. But how do astronomers decide which telescopes and tools to use or build? And what are the key science questions they are trying to answer? Join us as Prof. Jonathan Crass, assistant research professor in the Department of Physics, discusses some of the current and future tools for astronomy and how they will answer fundamental questions such as: Are we alone in the universe? How did we get here? And do we really understand how the universe works?

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

An Archaeological Road Trip with the Keck Telescopes

Prof. Evan Kirby
Tuesday February 22nd 2022 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The Keck telescopes have taken astronomers to the most remote neighborhoods of our galaxy, peppered with mini-galaxies-within-a-galaxy that are sparsely populated with just handfuls of stars. Although these galaxies used to harbor supernovae that produced most of the elements in the periodic table, those factories were shuttered long ago. Keck uncovers the history of these ghost towns–and their defunct manufacturing economies–by discovering what the few surviving stars are made of.

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Seeing the Light: Hunting for solar systems like our own

Dr. Eckhart Spalding
Tuesday November 30th 2021 - 7:00 pm ET
105 Jordan Hall of Science

A group of astronomers recently carried out a survey of nearby stars, called the “Hunt for Observable Signatures of Terrestrial Systems.” The survey used the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona to measure the faint signals of dust around stars and provide the first realistic hints of discovering Earth-like planets around other stars using future space-based missions. Postdoctoral researcher Eckhart Spalding, who participated in the survey, will describe the adventure, the innovation, the science, and the future implications of this pioneering survey.

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Science and Forged Money

Dr. Khachatur Manukyan
Tuesday November 16th 2021 - 7:00 pm ET
105 Jordan Hall of Science

For millennia, money has been used as the primary medium for exchange in the West – and it has been counterfeited for just as long. Scientists at the University of Notre Dame are using particle accelerators, spectroscopic methods, and electron microscopes to study the counterfeiting methods used in historical coins and paper money. Join us as Prof. Manukyan shares some of the previously unknown counterfeiting methods that have recently been discovered.

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

The Role of Science in Public Policy

Prof. Graham Peaslee
Tuesday November 2nd 2021 - 7:00 pm ET
105 Jordan Hall of Science

Certain manufactured chemicals in the environment can be a critical concern for human health. However, unless scientists can effectively disseminate their research to the public and policy makers, many potential problems go unresolved. Over the past several years, Prof. Graham Peaslee and his colleagues have learned how to effectively communicate the problems with Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS), which pose significant risks to human health but are found in areas such as food packaging, textiles, and cosmetics. Only recently have they been highlighted in media coverage resulting in various strategies to steer the market away from PFAS, and regulations to restrict their use. Join us as Prof. Peaslee discusses his research, as well as the positive and negative outcomes of mixing science and policy.

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Dream Materials: Going from fictional compounds to modern devices

Sushrut Ghonge
Tuesday October 19th 2021 - 7:00 pm ET
105 Jordan Hall of Science

Developing any new technology comes with a wish list of new materials. We need one type of material to make a folding smartphone, and another to construct the body of a spacecraft. But how do we find such materials from the infinite possible combinations of chemical elements and their compounds? Learn about a new paradigm in materials discovery that allows us to find new materials using only our mind (and some help from computers).

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, and matter at high density

Prof. Grant Mathews
Tuesday October 5th 2021 - 7:00 pm ET
105 Jordan Hall of Science

Why do some stars explode into supernovae, but others form black holes? What happens when two neutron stars merge and form a black hole? Prof. Grant Mathews presents how astrophysics research at Notre Dame is answering these questions and revealing new properties of matter as these objects form.

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Nanotechnology – Friend, not foe

Prof. László Forró, Aurora and Thomas Marquez Professor of Information Theory and Computer Technology
Tuesday September 21st 2021 - 7:00 pm ET
105 Jordan Hall of Science

Nanotechnology has the potential to solve today’s major challenges in the sectors of energy, information technology, health, and environment. However, it can generate fear and distrust: some nanostructures look like asbestos, the idea of nanobots sounds too futuristic, and newly developed molecules are not time-tested.

Join us to see nanotechnologies through the eyes of a physicist, and learn how they can advance breakthroughs in the sciences, from biology to materials science.

For the safety of everyone attending, all events will be held in line with the University visitor policies:

• ​V​isitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated.
• Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must wear masks inside campus buildings and at any other time designated by the University.
• ​Events will be held in large lecture theaters to promote social distancing.

​See https://covid.nd.edu/policies/visitors-policy/ for more details.

We will also broadcast this event live via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

The Final Hubble Servicing Mission: A first-hand perspective

Michael T. Good ’84BS ’86MS, former NASA astronaut
Friday January 22nd 2021 - 6:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Join us for our final free public events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope.

The fifth and final servicing mission of the Hubble Space Telescope was completed by Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-125) in May 2009. Join us as former NASA astronaut and member of this final servicing mission discusses with us about his time in space and the re-birth of Hubble.

Connect online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Submit your questions

Have you got a question to ask during this event Q&A? Submit them online before and during the event at: https://forms.gle/fe64hFDSxd2ui7qt9

Discovering the Universe with Hubble: A panel discussion

Hubble Panel
Thursday January 21st 2021 - 6:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Join us for the second of our free public events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Have you ever wondered just how do we get those stunning images from the Hubble Space Telescope? And just how do scientists make breakthroughs using observations with Hubble? Join us as a panel of experts on Hubble, its operations and science talk us through the day-to-day operation of the telescope, some of its most famous images and what it’s actually like to work with data from Hubble!

Panelists:
Jennifer Wiseman, Ph.D., Hubble Space Telescope Senior Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center;
Tom Brown, Ph.D., Mission Head, Hubble Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute;
Chris Howk, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame;
Nicolas Lehner, Ph.D., Research Professors, Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame;

Connect online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Submit your questions

Have you got a question to ask during this event Q&A? Submit them online before and during the event at: https://forms.gle/TaR3V62d4mdFgJ5C9

Hubble’s 30 Years of Experience: Springboard for the future

Carol Christian, Ph.D. (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Wednesday January 20th 2021 - 6:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Join us for the first of our free public events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope.

We’re delighted to welcome Carol Christian, the Hubble Space Telescope Outreach Project Scientist, who will give an overview of Hubble:

Now in its 31st year of operation, the Hubble Space Telescope is healthy and anticipated to be operating well into the 2020s. This talk will highlight the history of Hubble and concentrates on new forefront science results coming out of HST where the observatory has excelled. The science portfolio is impressive and unrivaled in astronomy, totally driven by the science community ingenuity.

The talk will be followed by an audience Q&A so get ready to submit those questions.

Connect online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Submit your questions

Have you got a question to ask during this event Q&A? Submit them online before and during the event at: https://forms.gle/LyQm9xVFDaqGtnqQ9

Climbing the Distance Ladder

Keith Davis Ph.D.
Tuesday May 26th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Measuring the distance to space borne objects is one of the most difficult tasks in astronomy. The first measurements of the distance to the sun required global adventure, and cost the lives of some of the best astronomers of the day. As late as 1920, astronomers were still debating the size and scale of the Milky Way, and had yet to be sure that other galaxies even existed. Join Davis as he uses freely available online tools to illustrate the challenges of these “simple” measurements.

Connect online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Artemis vs. Apollo: Getting the U.S.A. back to the Moon to stay

Prof. Clive Neal
Tuesday May 19th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Earlier this year, NASA released its Plan for Sustained Exploration and Development on the Moon. One of the biggest issues to its success in enabling sustained human exploration is being able to live off local resources, but the simple fact is that we do not know the full extent of the lunar resources that are available.

In 2023, NASA’s will launch its VIPER mission, a rover which is expected to begin exploring the resources at the poles of the Moon. However, before wider human exploration is possible, numerous locations will need to be visited to ensure sufficient resources are available. Prof. Clive Neal discusses this, the idea of an Artemis Base Camp, and how public-private partnership investment will help make human exploration back to the Moon a reality through developing the resources, production and new technologies.

Connect online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Cosmic Alchemy: How the Universe made the Heaviest Elements

Dr. Erika Holmbeck
Tuesday May 12th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Where alchemists of the past failed to transform iron into gold, the Universe has succeeded!

Join us as Erika Holmbeck, Ph.D. describes how cosmic stellar collisions can create the heaviest elements in the periodic table, from precious metals through to the heaviest radioactive elements. Discover how simulations of colliding neutron stars are giving astronomers an insight into the exact conditions needed to generate these elements, and how measuring the stars where we find these heaviest elements can tell us which types of stellar collisions are capable of cosmic alchemy.

Connect online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Flat-Earthers Need Not Apply: The Predictive Power of Physics

Alejandro Clocchiatti
Tuesday May 5th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Today more than ever, science plays a critical role in predicting the behavior of the world and Universe around us. From challenges spanning global warming to understanding how our own planet fits into the solar system, it is key that we live in a world of reality based on evidence and scientific predictions, rather than in a world of fantasy.

Join us as Prof. Clocchiatti dissects the nonsensical scenario proposed by flat-earthers from the joyful perspective of a Newtonian physicist observing the solar system. He will explain the relevance of a consistent quantitative model to make sense of and predict the behavior of everything from climate science to the spread of COVID-19.

Connect online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

The Rise of the Machines: Artificial Intelligence in Science

Prof. Olaf Wiest (Notre Dame Center for Computer Assisted Synthesis)
Tuesday April 28th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a fairly new and powerful tool that touches all aspects of our lives, and science is no different. But what is AI anyway, and how can we use it ? How can it help us to discover the next drug, or the next high-tech material to solve our energy problems? And, once we know what we should make, can AI help us to make it ? Prof. Olaf Wiest, director of Notre Dame’s Center for Computer Assisted Synthesis, will discuss the basics of AI and share some recent applications.

Join us as we stream this talk online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://bit.ly/2WqK1jq

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Why Physics (still) Lacks Diversity

Dr. Michael Kilburn
Tuesday April 21st 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

The lack of diversity in physics is a known problem, and yet efforts to change our demographics have only had minor effects during recent decades. What do we mean by “diversity”? Why is it important? Why haven’t our efforts been successful? Research from all STEM fields will be presented as we explore reasons for the lack of diversity at different academic levels, and reveal barriers that blind us to excellence.

Join us as we stream this talk online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://bit.ly/2WqK1jq

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Firefighters and PFAS: Occupational Health and Environmental Health

Prof. Graham Peaslee
Tuesday April 14th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

A group of chemicals, Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS), was virtually unheard of by most of the public until 2012, when a study about their persistence in the environment was published. These chemicals are widely used, particularly in firefighting foams and gear, as well as in other consumer products. Prof. Graham Peaslee has examined PFAS use in a variety of these products. Learn the results of his recent research to find out what contact with this substance means for firefighters, and for you.

Join us as we stream this talk online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://bit.ly/2WqK1jq

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Born from the Stars

Dr. Dan Wilkins
Tuesday April 7th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

The Universe is big – bigger than we can often comprehend. From the extremely large galaxies, stars and planets, to the incredibly small, with intricate structure inside every atom, it has fascinating details on every scale. But where did it all come from and what will it all become in the future? Dr. Dan Wilkins (Stanford University) explains how astronomers can begin to answer some of these fundamental questions and will describe how the Universe came to be.

Join us as we stream this talk online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://bit.ly/2WqK1jq

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Measuring the Heavens: How to build an instrument to study the cosmos

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday March 31st 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

We’ve all seen the stunning astronomical images taken using telescopes on the ground and in space. But have you ever wondered just how did we take those images? How did we design instruments capable of doing so? How did we even know what to record and what does that mean for the instruments of the future? Join us as Dr. Jonathan Crass answers these questions and reveals some of the hidden sides of astronomical instrument design, development and operation.

Join us as we stream this talk online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://bit.ly/2WqK1jq

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

Galactic Archaeology: Unraveling the History of the Stars, our Galaxy, and the Early Universe

Sarah Dietz
Tuesday March 24th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Online Streaming

Similar to archaeologists uncovering artifacts to study ancient civilizations, or paleontologists using fossil fragments to reconstruct the dinosaurs, astronomers observe the night sky to piece together the history of the cosmos. We can use stellar “fossils” to track the evolution of our galaxy and shed light on the early universe. Come learn about ancient stars, the history of the galaxy, and current hot topics in stellar astrophysics.

Join us as we stream this talk online via our Youtube Channel and Zoom:

Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel [unlimited viewers] – https://bit.ly/2WqK1jq

Connect using Zoom [limited to 100 viewers] (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/724722144 (Meeting ID is 724-722-144).

*** EVENT CANCELLED *** – Climbing the Distance Ladder

Keith Davis Ph.D.
Tuesday March 17th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science

Event rescheduled to Tues 26th May 2020

Given the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 and updated guidance from the University, we have taken the decision to reschedule our planned ‘Climbing The Distance Ladder’ talk for next week until Tuesday 26th May 2020. This information is now reflected on our website at nduniverse.org.

Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse: will we see an explosion soon?

Prof. Grant Mathews
Tuesday February 25th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Most of us have heard of the red giant star with the unusual name, located on the “shoulder” of winter’s most recognizable constellation, Orion. During the past three months, astronomers have noticed that the star has noticeably dimmed, and is no longer among the top 10 brightest stars in the sky. Professor Mathews will talk about Betelgeuse and update its status. Will it blow up soon? If so, what will that look like? And what would happen to Earth?

Supermassive Black Holes: Monsters lurking in the hearts of galaxies

Dr. Dan Wilkins
Tuesday February 11th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Black holes are some of the most exotic and most extreme objects in the Universe. Though they may sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are real and much more common than you may think; every galaxy has one lurking at its center. Learn exactly what black holes are, how we can find them, and how they can power some of the brightest objects we see in the night sky.

Building the World's Biggest Telescopes

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday February 4th 2020 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The night sky offers us a window to the most distant edges of the Universe. To study and understand it requires astronomers to push the boundaries of technology, building ever more complex instruments and larger and larger telescopes. Join us as Jonathan Crass, research assistant professor, describes just how we build the largest telescopes today, what it takes to keep them running, and some of the cutting-edge science they deliver.

Extremes of the Planets [All Ages Event]

Jonathan Crass
Tuesday December 10th 2019 - 6:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Join us for the return of our “explosive” all-ages Christmas spectacular, ‘Extremes of the Planets’. See just what it’s like on the surface of Mars or just how cold it is on Neptune. And let’s not forget about the inner planets where the sun bakes them to hotter than an oven!

With demonstrations and discussion, join us for this FREE (but ticketed) event for all ages!

Get Your Tickets

Free tickets for this event are available online via Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/83750226181/

Radioactivity and Society: Needs and fears in a modern world

Prof. Michael Wiescher
Tuesday December 3rd 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Research was immediately started into the positive applications of radioactivity when it was discovered at the turn of the 20^th century, but the development of the nuclear bomb caused people to fear all forms of radioactivity. As a result, people now feel threatened by natural exposure to it, although exposure has grown substantially over the last decades through travel and the ever-increasing search for new resources. Learn about the true impact of the natural physics phenomenon of radioactivity, even as it has assumed a key role in modern life.

Gravitational Waves: Listening to the Universe

Lan Nguyen
Tuesday November 5th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Information, heat and disorder: from smartphones to black holes

Sushrut Ghonge
Tuesday October 22nd 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

From our experience we know that if left unattended, most things will go more easily from order to disorder than the other way around. Join Sushrut Ghonge, a graduate student in the Department of Physics, who will show that information is the key to creating and maintaining order at all scales, from atomic to astronomical. Using examples from electronics in our smartphones and life processes inside the human body, he will demonstrate the interplay between information and heat. Finally, Ghonge will share some paradoxical properties of black holes.

There's a Little Black Spot on the Sun

Keith Davis
Tuesday October 8th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science

On the morning of November 11, Mercury will seem to pass across the surface of the Sun. This is a transit, a special kind of conjunction in which an object moves in front of another. Conjunction, alignment, and occultation are all real astronomical terms, but what do they mean? Join Dr. Keith Davis at the Digital Visualization Theater to learn how the solar system moves, what to call the positions of the planets, and why they move around in the first place.

Leading a Path Towards a Lead-Free Future: The Notre Dame Lead Innovation Team

The Lead Innovation Team
Tuesday September 17th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Graham Peaslee, Ph.D., Professor of Physics
Marya Lieberman, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Matt Sisk, Assistant Librarian, Hesburgh Libraries
Meghanne Tighe, Graduate Student, Chemistry
Heidi Beidinger, Ph.D., Assistant Professional Specialist, Eck School of Public Health

The Lead Innovation Team has been tackling the problem of environmental lead in South Bend for over two years. Although lead has not been added to paint or gasoline for decades, it remains in homes and soil, and children are still being poisoned by lead. A Notre Dame team of specialists in physics, chemistry, public health and the Hesburgh Library has created and tested a prototype lead screening kit, and discovered new science along the way. Learn about lead and hear our most recent results that demonstrate how the problem can be solved here, and elsewhere in the world.

Headlines from the Solar System

Jonathan Crass
Tuesday May 14th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

​Over the ​recent months​ ​numerous stories have ​hit the headlines with ​advancements in our understanding of the Solar System. Join Dr. Jonathan Crass as he presents and explains some of the recent news and what it means for our knowledge of our local astronomical neighborhood.

How “emergence” and chemistry continue to change our lives

Prof. Badih Assaf
Tuesday April 30th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Emergence refers to macroscopic behavior of a system that is different from the sum of its constituents. Combine emergence with the periodic table, and you have the fascinating field of solid-state physics. The plethora of chemical elements and their different combinations has led solid-state physicists to discover new materials.

Learn how new materials and their fundamental properties will continue enabling life-changing technologies like efficient transistors and computer hard drives, white LEDs, and secure quantum communications.

Extrasolar Planets: The Strange Worlds Surrounding Us and the Instruments We Use to Find Them

Prof. Jeff Chilcote
Tuesday April 16th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

During the past three decades we have gone from knowing about a handful of planets orbiting our sun to identifying thousands of planets orbiting every type of star in solar systems that may or may not look like our own. To discover all the thousands of worlds in the universe, astronomers have had to invent more precise “eyes” than ever before. Learn about the new planets we have discovered, the new instruments we have had to construct, and the promise that the future of searching for exoplanets holds.

Galactic Archaeology

Jinmi Yoon
Tuesday April 2nd 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The heavens above us are constantly changing with the birth and death of stars, planets and galaxies. Join us to hear how Galactic Archaeology, a branch of astronomy that studies the stellar fossil records in the Milky Way, aims to uncover the history of our own galaxy and the very earliest times of the Universe.

Seeing into the Black, Evidence for Black Holes

Keith Davis
Tuesday March 19th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science

Join Keith Davis, director of the Digital Visualization Theater, on a virtual journey through the universe to explore the dark world of black holes – and how we know they exist.

Energy E3: Education, Engineering Design, and Entrepreneurship

Abigail Mechtenberg
Tuesday March 5th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Energy E3 is a longstanding program focused on collaborating with local experts in low -to middle-income countries to enable energy education, engineering design, and entrepreneurship. After running for 10 years in Uganda, the program has begun in Rwanda, Nigeria, and Haiti.

Join us as Abigail Mechtenberg, who created and launched the Energy E3 program, explains the program and demonstrates energy prototypes, shares types of sustainable electricity-generating devices, and describes the expertise needed to build microgrids locally.

The History of Supernova Neutrinos

Prof. John LoSecco
Tuesday February 19th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Many physics concepts like relativity and quantum mechanics emerged as theories during the mid 19th to the late 20th century. Join us as we discuss the evolution of astrophysics from this period and how that enabled us to develop an understanding of energy production in stars and the end point of stellar evolution.

The Rise and Fall of Evolutionary Sand Castles

Dervis Can Vural
Tuesday February 5th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Put some microbes in a puddle, and in a few billion years they might turn into a rainforest or a coral reef. Over time, individual cells form multicellular organisms, and organisms diversify and form ecological communities. This spectacular mixing appears inevitable and irreversible — and just as an ink droplet dissolves in water, this mixing occurs with order and directionality. Mathematical models describe how such interdependent structures form, and how they fall apart. Learn how this applies to evolution of aging and cancer, evolution of social behavior, and the evolution of ecological communities.

CANCELLED – The Universe in a Box: Studying galaxies with supercomputers

Prof. Brian O'Shea (Michigan State University)
Tuesday January 29th 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Due to the predicted weather and associated scheduled closure of the University, the talk ‘The Universe in a Box’ on Tuesday 29th January has been cancelled.

Thank you for your understanding and stay safe during the next few days.

Galaxies are complicated beasts, with gravity, plasma physics, stars, black holes, and many other things all interacting with each other over a long period of time. Because of this complexity, the theoretical study of galaxy formation is a tremendous challenge. To do so, we must use computers – specifically, the biggest supercomputers in the world – in order to make meaningful progress. In this talk, learn how we use supercomputers to study galaxies, and see many examples of the types of simulations used to learn about the universe.

Headlines from the Solar System

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday January 22nd 2019 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Over the past few months, numerous stories have hit the headlines about discoveries within our own Solar System. Join Dr. Jonathan Crass as he presents and explains some of the recent news and what it means for our knowledge of our local astronomical neighborhood.

Magic or Physics? (Ages 8+)

Micha Kilburn
Tuesday December 4th 2018 - 6:30 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Join us for a demo-filled discovery of optics and fire!
Is it magic… or can we explain it with physics? You’ll have to see to believe.

Join us for this FREE (but ticketed) event for ages 8+!

Get Your Tickets

Free tickets for this event are available online via Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/52881641413/

Special Relativity: Stretching Time and Space

Sam Potier
Tuesday November 27th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Time and space are not nearly as constant as we perceive them to be. If we move at astronomical speeds, this perception of a constant time would quickly fall apart, resulting in science-fiction-like scenarios.

Join us to learn how special relativity helps us avoid aging, prevents seemingly simultaneous events from occurring at the same time, and affects our everyday lives.

Disorder, Time, and the Silent Death of the Universe

Miguel Correa
Tuesday November 6th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The universe has changed and evolved since the beginning of time. Stars are born and stars die, and give us the night sky we see today. But while change within the universe is constant, there is only one quantity which always increases: disorder.

Join us as we delve into one of the most challenging concepts of physics – the idea of entropy and disorder. Discover how it affects astronomical objects including black holes, life on Earth, and how it will ultimately define the end of the universe.

Particle Physics: past, present and future

Prof. Christopher Kolda
Tuesday October 23rd 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

During the past few years, physicists have finally completed their century-long program of building a fundamental and unified picture of all known particles found in nature, only to find that key pieces are still missing. In this talk, we will show how our world works at its most fundamental levels, where the gaping holes in our knowledge remain, and how we plan to fill many of these holes in this new century.

Heart of Darkness

Jeremiah P. Ostriker, Ph.D., Princeton University
Tuesday October 9th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science

Ostriker, a member and former treasurer of the National Academy of Sciences, is a leading researcher in theoretical astrophysics and numerical cosmology. He has won several of the field’s most prestigious awards, including the Gruber Cosmology Prize, the James Craig Watson Medal, the Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal, the Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal, and the United States National Medal of Science. He is also the author of Heart of Darkness: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Invisible Universe.

Dark matter is all around us; it fills the universe and yet we cannot see it, touch it or even determine what it is. Astronomers the world over are still trying to explain its elusive presence–a presence with nothing except its weight to prove its existence. Learn about past and recent advancements in our understanding of dark matter and dark energy, and how these mysterious components contribute to the expansion of the universe.

It all started with a Big Bang

Prof. Grant Mathews
Tuesday October 2nd 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Have you ever wondered what happened during the first moments of the formation of the universe? How did this shape what we see today?

Join us as Grant Mathews steps back in time to confront the first few seconds after the “Big Bang.” Discover how researchers at Notre Dame are working to understand those moments, and learn how the observed remnant glow of the heat of creation, emitted when the universe was only 300,000 years old, gives us an opportunity to study the beginning of time.

Additionally, explore the fundamentals of the universe and learn answers to your big questions, including: Is the universe finite or infinite? Why are there only three large space dimensions, plus time? What is the multiverse? Is there evidence for parallel universes? All the answers lead back to the beginning…the Big Bang.

The Challenges of Energy Poverty

Abigail Mechtenberg, Ph.D.
Tuesday September 25th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The physical world around us is full of symmetry, which scientists use to describe the universe using laws of conservation. Discovered by Emmy Noether in the early 20th century, the theory led to one of the most important ideas in physics today: the conservation of energy. This describes how no energy is lost from a system – it simply interchanges from one form to another.

Mother Teresa stated that poverty is a result of not sharing resources. Many parts of the world do not have access to useful energy, leading to energy poverty. In this talk, we discuss the physics of energy conservation, describe the use of energy resources, and detail the challenges of creating useful forms for society. Learn about programs being undertaken at Notre Dame and beyond to address world-wide energy poverty, as we strive to ensure energy is available to all.

Energy demonstrations will take place in the galleria after the talk. Also, students from the Energy and Sustainable Development with Design (ESDD) lab will present their research from Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Haiti, and describe a research project with Harvard Medical School on Electricity and Global Health Care.

Searching for Life in a Galaxy Full of Planets

Prof. Paul Robertson (UC Irvine)
Tuesday September 11th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

We now know, at least statistically, that we live in a Galaxy full of billions of planets, with more being discovered every day.  But the novelty of adding another planet to our rapidly growing collection is understandably wearing off.  Will we ever get an answer to the really big questions?  Are any of these planets inhabited?  Are any of those inhabitants intelligent?

I will review the techniques astronomers use to find and characterize nearby exoplanets.  Then, I will discuss potential avenues for identifying life on these newly-discovered Galactic neighbors.  We will explore the difference between discovering intelligent extraterrestrials and more simple life, and the importance of each.

Movies versus Astronomy – Science Fact or Science Fiction?

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday September 4th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Space has been used as the backdrop for some of the most thrilling and successful movies, recently including Gravity, Interstellar and The Martian.

Join us as we take a look at these movies and question just how realistic they are: true science fact or pure science fiction?

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 11:45pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 11:45 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
3 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 11:30pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 11:30 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
8 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 11:15pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 11:15 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
1 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 11:00pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 11:00 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
12 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 10:45pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 10:45 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
2 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 10:30pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 10:30 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
5 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 10:15pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 10:15 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
4 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Krizmanich Telescope Stargazing – 9:45pm

Notre Dame Astrophysics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 9:45 pm ET
Notre Dame Observatory, Jordan Hall of Science
4 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us to stargaze through the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope at Jordan Hall of Science. Free but tickets are limited!

This event runs as part of the More Summertime Stargazing Event.

If this event is fully booked, check for others on the same date in our event list! There will also be limited tickets available on the night during the More Summertime Stargazing event on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

More Summertime Stargazing!

Notre Dame Department of Physics
Friday August 17th 2018 - 9:30 pm ET
Jordan Hall of Science

Following the huge demand shown for our Summertime Stargazing event, join us as again as we look to the skies to see the planets, stars and nebulae in the night sky at More Summertime Stargazing!

Whether it’s telescopes on the lawn outside Jordan Hall, looking through a fleet or roof top telescopes at the observatory or hearing more about astronomy, join us as we explore the heavens above us! Great for all ages and completely free! No tickets required!

As part of this event, we will be a offering additional FREE but ticketed stargazing using the 32″ Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope, one of the largest telescopes in Indiana! Get your free tickets now on our events page [If there are no specific timed events listed this means all advance tickets are SOLD OUT]. There will be limited tickets also available on the night on a first come, first served basis.

This event is dependent upon the weather – if you can’t see the stars, neither can our telescopes!

Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Summertime Stargazing

Notre Dame Astrophysics Group
Friday July 6th 2018 - 10:00 pm ET

Join us on the rooftop observatory at Jordan Hall of Science to gaze at the stars on a summer evening. Astrophysics faculty and graduate students will be on hand to view stars, nebulae and galaxies using telescopes including the 32” Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope, one of the largest telescopes in Indiana.

Free and open to the public! Great for all ages!

This event is dependent upon weather with a cloud/rain date of Friday 13th July. Visit nduniverse.org for any last minute announcements and more information.

Expecting the Unexpected (An event for ages 8+) – Show 2

ExPAND Demo Team
Tuesday May 15th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science
155 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a scientist? How do they think about the world around us? And how does that allow them to build experiments to study the Universe?

Join the ExPAND physics demo team as they delve into how scientists work and think through demonstrations, experiments and tests! Find out if science can really predict everything and what happens when you don’t get the results that you expect!

Expecting the Unexpected (An event for ages 8+) – Show 1

ExPAND Demo Team
Tuesday May 15th 2018 - 6:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science
47 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a scientist? How do they think about the world around us? And how does that allow them to build experiments to study the Universe?

Join the ExPAND physics demo team as they delve into how scientists work and think through demonstrations, experiments and tests! Find out if science can really predict everything and what happens when you don’t get the results that you expect!

Benjamin Franklin, Early American Money, and Scientific Techniques

Dr. Khachatur Manukyan
Tuesday May 1st 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Benjamin Franklin has a legacy which best recognizes him as being one of the Founding Fathers. However, his legacy is far more extensive covering numerous areas – he was a strong supporter of the use of paper money, printing it himself and using his professional network of printers to create clients for his monetary designs and materials. He has shaped the money we use today.

Join us as we use the latest scientific tools to study the historic money of Benjamin Franklin’s time held within the collections of Hesburgh Libraries at the University of Notre Dame. We’ll unlock the ingenious techniques he invented to safeguard his bills’ integrity and explore the composition of papers, additives, and inks used in printing paper bills. We’ll also discuss Franklin’s innovative ideas and his extraordinary ability to persuade the public in the creation of practical solutions for the common good!

50+ Years of Pulsars

Dr. Martin Sulkanen
Tuesday April 17th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

How to hack your life with science (An event for ages 13+)

Micha Kilburn
Tuesday April 3rd 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

At its core, science is just one way of learning about the world around us. Scientific thinking, and the scientific method can be applied in almost any situation to uncover truths. In this talk, we’ll explore topics such as troubleshooting home electronics, evaluating marketing claims, and how often you already use scientific thinking in your daily life. We’ll also discuss when to be skeptical of scientists and research you see in the media.

Time And Relative Dimension In Space: Can We Build a Time Machine?

Sushrut Ghonge
Tuesday March 20th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Strange things happen when one travels very fast or gets close to a massive object. Space and time bend, causing time to go slower and lengths to contract. Can we use these properties to build a time machine?

What Goes Up Might Not Come Down! Gravity, Orbits and an Interstellar Visitor

Keith Davis
Tuesday March 6th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science

In the fall of 2017, a rocky visitor was discovered passing through our Solar System. ‘Oumuamua is the first asteroid we’ve discovered from outside our own planetary system, and it won’t stick around. It’s currently on a path that will take it beyond the Solar System forever. With barely any other information than its trajectory, astronomers declared it an “interstellar” object – but how did they know?

Join us as Dr. Keith Davis takes us through a discussion of the orbits, gravity, and how a few simple measurements can convince us that ‘Oumuamua is from beyond the edges of our own Solar System.

The Next Decade in Astronomy

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday February 20th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

“What’s next in astronomy?” Join us as we look back at what we’ve discovered in the last decade to see just how quickly astronomy is moving forward and what are the big remaining questions we need to solve. We’ll discuss the next generation of tools currently under construction to answer questions including ‘Are we alone in the Universe?’, ‘How did we get here?’ and ‘Do we really understand how the Universe works’?

To Infinity and Beyond: An Exploration of Travel Between The Stars

Jared Coughlin
Tuesday February 6th 2018 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

From warp drives to generation ships, science fiction is rife with creative ways that humanity may end up travelling among the stars.  In this talk we explore the feasibility of some of the more popular proposed methods and, assuming that they are possible, what the pros and cons of each may end up being.

Hubble’s Recent Hits and a Look Forward to the James Webb Space Telescope

Dr. Jason Kalirai, Multi-Mission Project Scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute
Tuesday January 23rd 2018 - 7:30 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

In this presentation, I’ll show a blitz of recent Hubble discoveries that have reshaped our understanding of what our place in the cosmos is. As Hubble continues to amaze us with its breathtaking imagery, it has also turned up new mysteries. To answer these, NASA is building the much more powerful James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch next year. With its 21 foot gold mirror, Webb will be our deepest space exploration vehicle and will trace our cosmic origins all the way back to the first stars and galaxies that seeded everything we have today. This incredible facility represents a new generation’s Hubble, and is about to usher in a new era of precision space astronomy.

The Science of Music

Devin Whitten
Tuesday December 5th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

​We all love music. But, why? Why does music sound good? What even is sound, anyway? From the basis of sound and simple harmony, to the ways we’ve tried to understand and capture music throughout history, we’ll explore some of these questions.​

Does antimatter fall up?

Prof. Adam Martin
Tuesday November 7th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

In this talk we’ll discover that antimatter is not just a figment of science fiction. It is very real, and more familiar than you might think. We’ll talk about why antimatter must exist, how it’s different than normal matter, and how we study it.

Spooky Science Demo Show [Show 2]

The ExPAND demo team
Tuesday October 24th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science
34 spaces remaining - Click here to book

It’s that time of year again, when the air gets cooler, the sounds of werewolves and ghosts draws nearer, and the physicists crawl out from their laboratories!

Join the ExPAND physics demo team for a packed show with spooky science demos that are sure to rattle your bones and leave you mystified.

A FREE (but ticketed) event! Please use the form on the event page to sign up for this event.

This event is open to all ages, and feel free to wear your favorite costume!

Spooky Science Demo Show [Show 1]

The ExPAND demo team
Tuesday October 24th 2017 - 6:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science
5 spaces remaining - Click here to book

The Great Silence: An Exploration of the Fermi Paradox

Jared Coughlin
Tuesday October 17th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Where is everybody? For as long as humans have looked up at the stars in the night sky, we have wondered whether or not we are alone in the Universe. With an estimated number of Earth-like planets in our galaxy in the billions, the odds seem to favor the existence of many other civilizations, and if even a small fraction of these are sending out signals or colonizing among the stars, we should have detected their presence by now. But we haven’t. This unexpected silence is known as the Fermi Paradox, and in this talk I discuss potential solutions to this problem as well as the central question: how common is intelligent life in the Universe?

Getting the Lead Out: Reducing South Bend’s Exposure to Environmental Lead

Prof. Graham Peaslee
Tuesday September 26th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Like many US cities, South Bend has a high number of children with blood lead levels above the threshold where public health intervention is recommended by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This current problem exists despite it being three decades since the removal of lead from gasoline and house paint. This leaves the outstanding question: where is this lead coming from?

An interdisciplinary team of Notre Dame faculty and students is leading a study to understand the sources of environmental lead within homes and surrounding environments. This is an ongoing program which aims to identify sources of lead, inform and educate the wider community about this issue and help them reduce exposure to the lead for themselves and their families.

Join us as leading members of this work present their current findings and future plans. This will be followed by a panel with local experts and community leaders to discuss how to address the issues of environmental lead in South Bend.

The Search for Life & Earth 2.0

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday September 12th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

For centuries, humans have looked up at the stars in the night sky and pondered a fundamental question about our place in the Universe:

Are we alone?

Twenty years ago, the first planet outside our solar system was discovered, heralding a new era in the search for life beyond Earth. Join us as we explore the techniques used to discover these planets and what their discovery means for understanding our solar system. We’ll discuss both current and future instruments, how they are answering this question and what they aim to discover in the coming decade.

Sub-second Tsunamis: What Wall Street can teach us about neurological disorders

Dr. Neil Johnson (University of Miami)
Tuesday August 22nd 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

How fast can you blink your eye, or clap your hands? Sure, one or two cups of coffee and a good night’s sleep might help speed things up — but the fact is that there are large-scale, ultrafast systems operating 24/7 on which our livelihoods and pensions depend, but in which there is no hope of real-time human intervention when things go wrong since they are limited only by the speed of light. In fact, the science of such systems is not well understood — in particular, the extreme events or ‘Black Swans’ which are like digital tsunamis. In this talk I present an explicit discussion of one such ultrafast electronic system which is closer to home than you might think. But I also describe how improving our understanding of this system can help our understanding of potentially all others. And this includes the most complex network system of them all — the human brain.

Solar Eclipse 2017 – DVT Show 9 – Aug 15, 8:15pm [Free Booking Required]

Keith Davis
Tuesday August 15th 2017 - 8:15 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science
2 spaces remaining - Click here to book

A great event for all ages!

Join Keith Davis, Ph.D., inside the Digital Visualization Theater to prepare for the Great American Eclipse! On August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will draw a path across the continental United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. See a simulation of the eclipse in Notre Dame’s unique 50-foot planetarium and digital theater. Learn about historically interesting eclipses and how the moon’s place in the solar system makes these events so spectacular. Discover how to view the eclipse safely, and receive free eclipse viewing glasses.The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at www.nduniverse.org/upcoming-talks/.

We ask in consideration for others to please only book tickets for one of these events. We appreciate your understanding. 

If you receive a ‘no seats available’ message below, unfortunately this event is now full. There may still be seats available for other shows which can be booked here. Thank you for your understanding.

Solar Eclipse 2017 – DVT Show 4 – Aug 12, 4:15pm [Free Booking Required]

Keith Davis
Saturday August 12th 2017 - 4:15 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science
3 spaces remaining - Click here to book

A great event for all ages!

Join Keith Davis, Ph.D., inside the Digital Visualization Theater to prepare for the Great American Eclipse! On August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will draw a path across the continental United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. See a simulation of the eclipse in Notre Dame’s unique 50-foot planetarium and digital theater. Learn about historically interesting eclipses and how the moon’s place in the solar system makes these events so spectacular. Discover how to view the eclipse safely, and receive free eclipse viewing glasses.The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at www.nduniverse.org/upcoming-talks/.

We ask in consideration for others to please only book tickets for one of these events. We appreciate your understanding. 

If you receive a ‘no seats available’ message below, unfortunately this event is now full. There may still be seats available for other shows which can be booked here. Thank you for your understanding.

Solar Eclipse 2017 – DVT Show 7 – Aug 10, 8:15pm [Free Booking Required]

Keith Davis
Thursday August 10th 2017 - 8:15 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science
4 spaces remaining - Click here to book

A great event for all ages!

Join Keith Davis, Ph.D., inside the Digital Visualization Theater to prepare for the Great American Eclipse! On August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will draw a path across the continental United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. See a simulation of the eclipse in Notre Dame’s unique 50-foot planetarium and digital theater. Learn about historically interesting eclipses and how the moon’s place in the solar system makes these events so spectacular. Discover how to view the eclipse safely, and receive free eclipse viewing glasses.The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at www.nduniverse.org/upcoming-talks/.

We ask in consideration for others to please only book tickets for one of these events. We appreciate your understanding. 

If you receive a ‘no seats available’ message below, unfortunately this event is now full. There may still be seats available for other shows which can be booked here. Thank you for your understanding.

Solar Eclipse 2017 – DVT Show 6 – Aug 10, 7:00pm [Free Booking Required]

Keith Davis
Thursday August 10th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science
1 spaces remaining - Click here to book

A great event for all ages!

Join Keith Davis, Ph.D., inside the Digital Visualization Theater to prepare for the Great American Eclipse! On August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will draw a path across the continental United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. See a simulation of the eclipse in Notre Dame’s unique 50-foot planetarium and digital theater. Learn about historically interesting eclipses and how the moon’s place in the solar system makes these events so spectacular. Discover how to view the eclipse safely, and receive free eclipse viewing glasses.The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at www.nduniverse.org/upcoming-talks/.

We ask in consideration for others to please only book tickets for one of these events. We appreciate your understanding. 

If you receive a ‘no seats available’ message below, unfortunately this event is now full. There may still be seats available for other shows which can be booked here. Thank you for your understanding.

Solar Eclipse 2017 – DVT Show 2 – Aug 9, 8:15pm [Free Booking Required]

Keith Davis
Wednesday August 9th 2017 - 8:15 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science
1 spaces remaining - Click here to book

A great event for all ages!

Join Keith Davis, Ph.D., inside the Digital Visualization Theater to prepare for the Great American Eclipse! On August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will draw a path across the continental United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. See a simulation of the eclipse in Notre Dame’s unique 50-foot planetarium and digital theater. Learn about historically interesting eclipses and how the moon’s place in the solar system makes these events so spectacular. Discover how to view the eclipse safely, and receive free eclipse viewing glasses.The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at www.nduniverse.org/upcoming-talks/.

We ask in consideration for others to please only book tickets for one of these events. We appreciate your understanding. 

If you receive a ‘no seats available’ message below, unfortunately this event is now full. There may still be seats available for other shows which can be booked here. Thank you for your understanding.

Seeing the Unseen (All Ages Event)

QuarkNet
Tuesday May 16th 2017 - 6:00 pm ET
Jordan Hall of Science

Join us for another all-ages Our Universe Revealed, as we bring the unseen world of particles into focus through demonstrations and hands-on activities!

A free event for all ages! No tickets required!

Gone Fission?

Sabrina Strauss
Tuesday May 2nd 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

We’ve all heard about nuclear energy, but how much do we really know about it? How much of what we see on the news is fact and fantasy? Is is safe, or dangerous? What kinds of nuclear energy are there? How, exactly does it work? Join us as we find out!

How You Became You – Origin of the Elements of Life

Timothy Beers
Tuesday April 18th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Professor Beers tells the story of how the Universe made the elements that make up your body, your planet, your Sun, your Galaxy, and everything in them. From the caldrons of the massive first stars emerged the fundamental elements required for life as we know it – Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen – within the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang. Shortly thereafter, heavier elements that provide the “spice” of life were created in supernovae explosions and merging neutron stars. Come hear the exciting tale, details of which are being explored by researchers here at Notre Dame.

Space Oddities: How Eclipses, Comets, and other Celestial Events Changed Human History

Laura Bland
Tuesday April 4th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

More Perfect Than We Imagined: A Physicist's View of Life

William Bialek, Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar
Tuesday March 28th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Sitting in a quiet room, we can hear sounds that cause our eardrums to vibrate by less than the diameter of an atom.  When bacteria have to decide if they are swimming in the right direction to find more food, they count every single molecule that arrives at their surface.  In these examples, and many more, evolution has selected for mechanisms that operate near the limits of what is allowed by the laws of physics.  This lecture will give a tour of these beautiful phenomena, from microscopic events inside a developing embryo to our own perception and decision making.  While there are many ways to build a biological system that might work, there are many fewer ways to build one that can approach the physical limits.  Perhaps, out of its complexity, life emerges as simpler, and more perfect, than we imagined.

This talk is presented by Prof. William Bialek, the John Archibald Wheeler/Battelle Professor in Physics at Princeton University,  and Visiting Presidential Professor of Physics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Prof. Bialek joins us for this special Our Universe Revealed as the Notre Dame Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar.

A show of Fire & Ice (Show 2)

ExPAND Demo Team
Tuesday March 21st 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science
7 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us for a fun filled show as we explain physics we see all around us through demonstrations using fire and ice!

A FREE (but ticketed) event for all ages!

Please use the form on the event page to sign up for this event.

If you receive a ‘no seats available’ message below, unfortunately this event is now full. There may still be seats available for other show at 6pm which can be booked here. Thank you for your understanding.

A show of Fire & Ice (Show 1)

ExPAND Demo Team
Tuesday March 21st 2017 - 6:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science
3 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us for a fun filled show as we explain physics we see all around us through demonstrations using fire and ice!

A FREE (but ticketed) event for all ages!

Please use the form on the event page to sign up for this event.

If you receive a ‘no seats available’ message below, unfortunately this event is now full. There may still be seats available for other show at 7pm which can be booked here. Thank you for your understanding.

Future Sky: Fate of the Earth and Universe in the Near and Distant Future

Grant Mathews
Tuesday March 7th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Astronomy makes many predictions about the evolution of the future cosmos. This includes answers to questions like:

• How will the Earth change and when will the Earth come to an end?
• When will life on Earth end?
• How will the Sun change and when will the Sun burn out.
• When and how will the Galaxy end?
• What will happen to the stars in the sky?
• What is the future of the universe:  A big bounce, a big freeze, or a big rip?
• Will time itself come to an end?

Prof. Mathews will describe a journey backward and forward through cosmic time as a means to explore these questions and provide some surprising answers.

Dark Matter

Antonio Delgado
Tuesday February 28th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

What is Dark Matter? Why do we need it? What it is made off? Can we detect it? In this talk I will try to answer these and other questions about a fundamental component of our Universe.

Evolution and Life in a Synthetic Universe

Dervis Can Vural
Tuesday February 14th 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The laws of physics can be thought of as a set of instructions on which the Universe runs. A good way to determine these instructions is to run them on a computer, essentially producing a synthetic universe, and then compare the outcome with the actual one. Unfortunately, for systems exceeding a handful of particles, the instructions become very difficult to follow, even with our best computers. For this reason, we look for “effective laws”, i.e. simplified instructions, that are a lot more easier to carry out but otherwise give the same outcome. Can we understand complex biological processes in the same way? Can the complexity of life be described by a simple instruction set? What kind of instructions lead to self-replicating and evolving systems, and what others do not? Join us to find out!

Dark matter vs. Dark energy: What’s the difference and why do we care?

Adam Martin
Tuesday January 31st 2017 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Whenever the Universe is brought up, the terms Dark Matter and Dark Energy inevitably get tossed around. But what are these, really? Are they the same thing or not? How do we know they exist? Why do we need them?

In this talk we will tackle these questions. We’ll discuss the evidence for Dark Matter and Dark Energy, how they are the similar and how they are different, and how they fit into our current picture of the Universe.

Extremes of the Planets – An Event for All Ages! (Show 2)

Jonathan Crass
Tuesday December 6th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science
37 spaces remaining - Click here to book

Join us for the return of two shows of our “explosive” all-ages Christmas spectacular, ‘Extremes of the Planets’. We bring the environments of the planets to Notre Dame allowing you to experience what it’s like on the surface of Mars and just how cold it is on Neptune. And let’s not forget about the inner planets where the sun bakes them to hotter than an oven!

With demonstrations and discussion, join us for this FREE (but ticketed) event for all ages!

Please use the form on the event page to sign up for this event.

Booking for this event has now closed – we may have a number of spaces available on the door for the second (7pm) show. These are first come, first served. Thank you for your understanding.

The Hunt for Environmental Toxins

Graham Peaslee
Tuesday November 29th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

There are an alarming number of news stories about “emerging” chemicals of concern in our environment, such as the recent drinking water contamination in Hoosick Falls, NY, or Flint, MI. In this talk we will discuss a few recent events that foreshadow a future where we are surrounded by chemicals of our own making, some of which are decidedly bad for our health. Using a new tool, an application of nuclear physics known as ion beam analysis, we will show how it is possible to rapidly assess hundreds of environmental samples a day, and to use this information to learn more about the environmental fate of these chemicals and their transport from our consumer products into the water we drink and into the food we eat. The variety of toxins studied with this method includes flame retardants, fluorinated surfactants and heavy metals, all of which have made their way from our consumer products into the environment, and recently into the primetime news.  The science behind these chemicals of concern will be explained and our exciting foray into the world of environmental measurements with a particle accelerator will be described.

Miller Endowed Lecture: The Ugly and the Beautiful: Versatile Uses of the 14C Bomb Peak

Walter Kutschera
Tuesday November 15th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
Carey Auditorium, Hesburgh Library

Nuclear weapons testing between 1952 and 1963 increased the 14C content in the atmosphere by 100 % over the natural level. After the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963, this 14C excess rapidly decreased through the CO2 cycle and has reached almost pre-nuclear levels today. During the last 50 years, the hydrosphere and biosphere, including humans, were thus ‘accidentally’ labeled with this rapidly changing 14C. The development of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), that is the art of counting 14C atoms ‘one by one’, allows one to trace 14C in ever smaller sample sizes. This led to a variety of unique applications, among which the age determination of cells in the human brain is perhaps the most interesting one. The 14C bomb peak can also be used for forensic studies, to determine the death of a person, to discover frauds in precious pieces of art and illicit trading of ivory. Another important use is the study of the CO2 cycle itself, particularly pertaining to the sequestering of anthropogenic CO2 in ocean and soil. It is somewhat gratifying that the horror of nuclear weapons testing has also created some useful side effects after all.

Emergence: how order springs from complexity

Kenjiro Gomes
Tuesday November 1st 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

In nature, quite often the whole is smarter than the sum of its parts. Try to imagine a society of bees. Even if we understand the behavior of a single bee very well, we couldn’t predict how the society of bees actually functions on a larger scale. The term “emergence” refers to how the large scale characteristics appear as the unexpected result of the collective behavior of each unit. This phenomenon happens very often in all fields of science, whether it is physics, biology, economics or computer science. In this talk, we will examine how we understand electrons, ants and even cities.

Hands on Physics – An All Ages Event

Speaker TBC
Tuesday October 25th 2016 - 6:00 pm ET
Jordan Hall of Science

Join us for an evening of talks, demos and hands-on activities explaining physics phenomena in the Universe around us!

Sink your hands into magnetic putty, experiment with color, light, and sound, create your very own bottled nebula and more!

A free event for all ages!

The Data Tsunami: Science from Big (and Bigger) Data

Mike Hildreth
Tuesday October 4th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Everyone has probably heard of “Big Data”. How big is “Big”? We will explore the exponential increase in the data produced worldwide (Zetabytes, anyone?), focused on some of the largest science projects and how their data is handled. We will also discuss efforts to preserve the knowledge behind the process that generates scientific results based on all of this data.  This will lead us to a discussion of policy issues associated with Citizen Science and how ordinary people can access scientific data.

Plasma: From Lightning to Medical Applications

Sylwia Ptasinska
Tuesday September 27th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Electrical plasma, considered as the fourth state of matter, is an ionized gas composed of charged particles (ions, electrons), radicals, and neutral species (excited atoms and molecules). They come in two classifications: thermal (hot) or non-thermal (cold) plasmas.

Hot plasmas being an abundant naturally occurring phenomena, e.g., the sun, polar aurora, lightning. At the end of the 20th century, hot plasmas were well established in industry although many customers and users are unaware of their use. Important industrial areas are light bulbs, modification of polymer materials, waste and air pollution management, microelectronics, flat panel displays, and many more.

Cold plasmas, operate near room temperatures and can be used to treat heat-sensitive surfaces and living tissues. In the last decade, the use of such cold atmospheric plasmas for medical purposes has attracted much attention as it can be implemented in various medical devices to inactivate bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores, to coagulate blood, to sterilize wounds, to sterilize surgical instruments, to transfect cells, and to treat tissue scaffolds.

Through the looking glass: Our view of the Universe

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday September 13th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Our understanding of the Universe today is driven by tools developed by astronomers to study the night sky. From the original telescopes of Galileo through to the largest telescopes today, technology has allowed us to discover how the Universe works. The new instruments installed on telescopes today allow us to see further from Earth and with more detail than ever before.

In this talk, we explore the tools used by astronomers to study the night sky. See how astronomers at Notre Dame use some of the largest telescopes in the world and discover how they allow us to see the night-sky in exquisite detail. Find out about the new techniques which we use to search for gravitational waves to give us a whole new view of the Universe and learn what the next generations of telescopes will tell us about the Universe around us.

Astroblast! – A free, family friendly event

Speaker TBC
Tuesday May 24th 2016 - 6:30 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Join us as Notre Dame astronomers take over Jordan Hall for an astronomy-fueled evening, including planetarium shows, live presentations, science craft projects, and hands-on demonstrations! A free event for all ages!

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/711650872270629/

A Quarter Century of the Hubble Space Telescope

Prof. Chris Howk
Tuesday May 10th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

The Hubble Space Telescope is one of humanity’s greatest scientific instruments. It is also one of our most beloved. This talk will describe the history of Hubble – from its inception and launch to its multiple upgrades by Shuttle astronauts – as well as its future. We will learn about how Hubble works, but we will also discuss the amazing scientific discoveries it has enabled.

Practical Magic: Superconductivity in the 21st Century

Dr. Matt Smylie
Tuesday April 26th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Superconductivity has fascinated and tantalized scientists for a century with its potential for applications, but nature’s rules of physics and man’s rules of economics have limited their usage to niche markets in the 100 years since the discovery of the effect. Recent technological and materials advancements and the rapidly growing demands for electrical energy in the economy of the 21st century, however, are changing the situation.

In this talk, we will discuss the physics of and the applications of superconductivity, and how Notre Dame researchers are partnering with scientists at National Laboratories to create high-performance materials that can satisfy the needs of our increasingly energy-intensive society.

“Seeing” Particles and Interactions…

Prof. Randy Ruchti
Tuesday April 12th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

High Energy Physicists study and seek to discover the fundamental particles and interactions upon which our universe is built.  The Notre Dame HEP Group is actively engaged in a major experiment in Europe called CMS, that is rapidly advancing our knowledge of this physics, at the Large Hadron Collider at the CERN Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland.

This presentation focuses on how we detect particles and interactions.   A hand-held particle detector, developed at Notre Dame, is brought into the discussion that shows three of the fundamental elements of matter: electrons, photons and muons right in the lecture hall.  This type of detector, built by students and teachers, has been placed in high energy particle beams to reveal visually the interactions of particles with matter.   It is impressive to see what high energy particles can do…!

The Physics of Energy (Event for ages 10 upwards)

Prof. Abigail Mechtenberg
Tuesday March 29th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

How can you prepare and participate in the next generation of energy
solutions?

Life today uses many different types of energy – whether gas to heat your home, electricity to power equipment or fuel for your car, it is a vital component of life within the 21st century. With this integration into our lives comes the opportunity for crisis: what happens when the energy sources aren’t available?

Join us as we learn about the impact of energy crises across the world. Whether it’s diesel supplies for the US military or how a lack of reliable electricity affects health of 1.2 billion people across the world, how does a physicist engage in this global dialogue? Come and hear about the issues and solutions being implemented by US military and Ugandans to solve their own energy crises.

Following the talk, join us in the Jordan Hall Galleria to get hands on with small scale energy education demonstrations!

Our eyes in the skies: How telescopes help us place ourselves in the Universe

Prof. Vini Placco
Tuesday March 15th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

People are always fascinated about the beauty and complexity of the night sky. However, our ability to see further, fainter, and in greater detail is limited by our own eyes, and that is one of the main motivations why instruments such as telescopes were invented.

In this presentation we will take a journey around the world, and see where (and why) large telescopes are built, and all the implications these have in our understanding on how the Universe works.

In Search of Nothingness: from Higgs Bosons to Gravitational Waves

Prof. Chris Kolda
Tuesday March 1st 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Philosophers and physicists have long struggled with the question of what meaning to ascribe to the concept of “nothingness”. In physics, the vacuum of spacetime is as close as we get to nothingness, yet the vacuum is a dynamic and exciting arena in which the laws of nature unfold in surprising ways. In this talk I will discuss what we know, and don’t know, about empty space, including the special roles played by Higgs bosons and gravitational waves in helping us probe this mysterious nothingness.

From Marble to Mummies

Prof. Michael Wiescher
Tuesday February 16th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

In this presentation we take a step back from the fundamental question of the universe and the origins of the elements but look at the utilization of the scientific techniques that have been developed as side product of this effort. The talk will concentrate on a new range of applications in nuclear physics that became known as archaeometry, the analysis and dating of historical and archaeological materials. The range of applications from art to art forgery will be demonstrated on a number of examples in the world of modern art and archaeology.

What's your time? Is it warped, crunched, or relative?

Prof. Arielle Phillips
Tuesday February 2nd 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Join us as we look at space time, real time, and relative time. We’ll do experiments that help us understand how we live time and how this relates to the Universe.

Astrophysical Alchemy

Prof. Rebecca Surman
Tuesday January 19th 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

While the origins of the light (hydrogen, helium) and intermediate mass (carbon through iron) elements found in our bodies and in our solar system are well understood, the elements heavier than iron present an intriguing mystery. We can tell from the solar system abundances of heavy elements that they were made in hot environments with lots of free neutrons. These conditions are quite strange, however, and where they can be found in the galaxy is still uncertain. Here we will discuss the candidate sites — some of which are within the galaxy’s most violent events: the deaths of massive stars in supernova explosions, and the collisions of two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole —and explain how Notre Dame nuclear physicists and astrophysicists are working to resolve this longstanding mystery.

Extremes of the Planets (An event for all ages!)

Dr. Jonathan Crass
Tuesday December 8th 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Join us for our “explosive” Christmas spectacular as we bring the environments of the planets to Notre Dame! Experience what it’s like on the surface of Mars and just how cold it is on Neptune. And let’s not forget about the inner planets where the sun bakes them to hotter than an oven!

With demonstrations and discussion, join us for this event for all ages!

Neutrinos from Heaven and Earth

Prof. John LoSecco
Tuesday December 1st 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

We will explore the role the neutrino, a very light elementary particle, plays in nature.  The neutrino is a very common byproduct of energy production. Since it is far more penetrating than even xrays neutrinos can be used to probe the deep interior of objects they pass through.

Magic or Physics? (Younger-audience event)

Micha Kilburn
Tuesday November 24th 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Join us for this free younger audience event as we explore the power of electricity and magnetism. Is it magic… or is it physics at work?

Following the event, enjoy some liquid nitrogen ice cream!

This event includes an Art 2 Science silent auction beginning at 6:30 pm in the Jordan Hall Galleria.

No booking is necessary for this event!

Galactic Archaeology: Stellar fossils reveal the ancient past of our Universe

Prof. Daniela Carollo
Tuesday November 10th 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Galactic Archaeology is a branch of astronomy that aims to explain the formation and evolution of large spiral galaxies like the Milky Way by analyzing the motion and chemical composition of ancient stars. Our Solar System has a strategic location in our galaxy, allowing us to observe and study individual stars and trace how galaxies were/are born.

This talk will show how we use the information from stars to understand how the Milky Way formed and to interpret the chemical signature of the first stars born in the Universe.

The stuff we are made of: how do we determine the chemical elements in stars and the Universe?

Prof. Vini Placco
Tuesday October 27th 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Carl Sagan once said: “We are made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself”. What does that mean? How can we know about the physics and chemistry of celestial bodies just by looking at the sky?

This talk will show how astronomers decode the light coming from the sky to determine the chemical composition of stars, and how this gives us clues about our own origin and place in the Universe.

Discovering the Other 95% of the Universe: What's Next for the LHC

Prof. Kevin Lannon
Tuesday October 6th 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

In 2012, the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) announced that they had discovered the last remaining building block in our theory of the subatomic world, the Higgs boson.  Is the Higgs the final chapter in the story of particle physics?  As the LHC begins a new run at an even higher energy, what kind of discoveries can we expect?  In this talk, we consider the possibilities for what might come next at the LHC.

Robotic Exploration and A Dash by Pluto: What we've learned in the last few months

Keith Davis
Tuesday September 29th 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science

The last twelve months have been a bright year for solar system exploration. From landing on a comet to the first high resolution photos of Pluto and Charon, a lot of new information is just starting to be digested by scientists.

Join Dr. Keith Davis as he demonstrates just how you get to a comet in the first place, reviews the first guesses at the new geology processes that formed Pluto’s mountains, and looks into just what those weird spots on Ceres are.

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry: From Tracing Ocean Currents to the Life and Death of Stars

Prof. Philippe Collon
Tuesday September 15th 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

Evolving from methods and techniques developed in nuclear physics, Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is a highly sensitive detection technique developed to search for the proverbial nuclear “needle-in-the haystack”. Using this method, we can identify specific isotopes to investigate phenomena from ocean current flows, to the age of archaeological artifacts, to the birth and death of stars.

In this talk, we will explore the research performed in the Nuclear Science Laboratory at Notre Dame.
In particular, we focus on tracing Atlantic Ocean circulation, galactic radioactivity, and the early formation
of the solar system. Join us as we identify materials in the universe around us with a demonstration of
testing everyday objects.

The Real Big Bang Theory: Birth of the Universe and the meaning of Space-time

Prof. Grant Mathews
Tuesday September 1st 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
101 Jordan Hall of Science

In this talk we will journey across the Universe and into its deep past. Learn how the Universe is a time machine and how Einstein’s theory of relativity helps us to conceptualize the meaning of space and time.

Discover some current views and research on the formation and evolution of the universe and discover some of the most fundamental questions in Physics:

• How did the Universe begin?
• Why is the Universe so large?
• Is the Universe finite or infinite?
• Why are there only 3 large space dimensions plus time?
• What is cosmic inflation, the multiverse, and why we believe there are parallel universes?
• What will be the future of the Universe?