Our Universe is full of surprises, from ghost remnants of black hole jets to exotic planets around distant stars to Boyajian’s star, the most mysterious star in our galaxy. Continue reading “A Universe of Surprises”
Program Series: Physical Science
The Physical Science (PS) Series offers events that showcase the current understanding of the origin of the Universe, properties of matter and energy and the relationships between them, and space exploration.
Previous PS events have covered dark matter, Switzerland’s CERN Laboratory, the Hubble Telescope, quarks and the cosmos, navigating earth and space, and the physics of baseball.
Distinguished speakers have included Astronaut John Grunsfeld; Nobel Laureate John C. Mather; and Laura Trouille, Astronomer, Northwestern University & Adler Planetarium.
This event will highlight Dr. Lederman’s contributions to science research at Fermilab and beyond, science education, and science outreach.
Dr. Leon Lederman was a Nobel prize-winning physicist with a passion for science education. He served as the director of Fermilab from 1979 to 1989. In 1992, he moved to the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he chose to teach freshman physics. He retired in 2011. With a career that spanned more than 60 years, Lederman, who passed away last year, became one of the most important figures in the history of particle physics. He was responsible for several breakthrough discoveries, uncovering new particles that elevated our understanding of the fundamental universe. His Nobel Prize was awarded in 1988 for discovery of the muon neutrino. But perhaps his most critical achievements were his influence on the field of physics and his efforts to improve science education. In later years, Lederman continued his outreach efforts, often in memorable ways. Sometimes, he would even set up shop on the streets of New York City and Chicago, and answer science questions from passersby.
Through his research, Lederman set the stage for Fermilab’s past and future success. The international Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, hosted by Fermilab, is an international flagship science project to unlock the mysteries of neutrinos. By studying neutrinos, particles at the heart of Dr. Lederman’s work, scientists at Fermilab and across the world will paint a clearer picture of the universe and how it works. This will be the largest science experiment ever hosted on U.S. soil.
During this celebration of Dr. Lederman’s legacy, expect a variety of physics-themed discussions and events, including a Physics Slam and an Ask-a-Physicist panel!
A Physics Slam is a fun competition that pairs a student from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (co-founded by Dr. Lederman) with a Fermilab scientist. Expect a no-holds-barred, light-hearted competition. Who will the audience choose as the winner?
In the spirit of his outreach efforts, the program also will have an Ask-a-Physicist panel. A team of scientists will take questions from the audience, in the same informal style of Dr. Lederman taking questions from people in Chicago and New York City.
Continue reading “Trailblazer of Physics: The Extraordinary Life of Leon Lederman”
Join us for the 2019 Darsh T. Wasan lecture. Ellen Ochoa, Former Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and the first Hispanic woman astronaut will deliver this year’s lecture. The lecture will be followed by a reception in the Hermann Hall Gallery Lounge.
Researchers around the world hope to discover new particles that can explain the nature of dark matter, prove the existence of extra dimensions, and perhaps even create mini black holes… Continue reading “The LHC: From dark matter particles to extra dimensions”
Star Wars – the fight of the light side of the force against the dark side – is a story that has fascinated us for the last 40 years. A crucial part of this story is the unbelievable scientific and technological advances – traveling through hyperspace, lightsabers, holograms, the discovery of habitable planets – that fill the universe. Continue reading “The Science of Star Wars”
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. Inclement weather has resulted in this program being canceled, stay tuned to c2st.org and sign up for our email list for further updates regarding rescheduling of the program at a later date. Refunds will be issued shortly.
What can we learn from alien worlds? We humans, with our “project of civilization,” are a kind of cosmic teenager. We have power over ourselves and the planet, but no model to follow. In his talk, Dr. Adam Frank will show how our fate can best be understood in light of the stars. Continue reading “*CANCELED* Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth”
