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Exploding Stars in an Accelerating Universe


Lecture Archives:



Location:
UT Campus, Welch Hall 2.224

Schedule:
5:45-7 - Pre-lecture Fun
7-8:15 - Lecture

Web Broadcast:
The Live Webcast will start at 7pm. Please log on at least 15 minutes before 7pm to download the necessary plug-ins to view our webcast.

Directions:
Welch is located on the corner of 24th Street and Speedway. Building & Parking Maps

Sponored by:
McDonald Observatory and Department of Astronomy Board of Visitors

McDonald Observatory and Department of Astronomy Board of Visitors




Friday, October 19, 2007 - 7 PM CT
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Exploding Stars in an Accelerating Universe

by Dr. J. Craig Wheeler
Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor of Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin



What is the Lecture About?

Dr. J. Craig Wheeler, renowned astrophysicist and author, will lead an exploration of ideas at the cutting edge of current astrophysics. His extraordinary journey to investigate explosions of supernovae, resulting neutron stars, mysterious black holes, and elusive gamma ray bursts are far from science fiction. These exotic objects in our universe make up the life cycle of stars, are the basis for planets and life, and measure the history and fate of our Universe.  Dr. Wheeler’s lecture follows the formation of supernovae, their characteristic shape and its significance, as well as the resulting celestial objects formed by the collapse of a star.  Along the way, Dr. Wheeler examines evidence suggesting that the Universe is actually accelerating. He also explains recent developments in understanding gamma-ray bursts - perhaps the most catastrophic cosmic events of all.

“Baryons, arranged into people, can think about the Universe, and the dark matter and dark energy, undoubtedly, cannot.” -from Cosmic Catastrophes, 2nd Ed.

Earth & Sky
Listen to radio program and podcast interview with J.Craig Wheeler by Earth & Sky: A Clear Voice for Science

 Radio Program  Podcast Interview

Presenter's Biosketch

J. Craig Wheeler is the Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was chair of the department from 1986 to 1990. He was a Research Fellow at Caltech working in Nobel Laureate Willy Fowler's group from 1969 to 1971. From 1971 to 1974, he was an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Harvard. In 1974, he moved to Texas as an Associate Professor of Astronomy. He specializes in the astrophysics of violent events: supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, gamma-ray bursts and the relation of these events to astrobiology. He was elected to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers in 2002. He is serving as President of the American Astronomical Society from 2006 to 2008. He has published about 200 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings, has edited books on supernovae and accretion disks. He published a novel, "The Krone Experiment," co-authored the screenplay, and played a role in the independent film made in Austin. He has also written a popular astronomy book, "Cosmic Catastrophes: Supernovae, Gamma-Ray Bursts and Adventures in Hyperspace" the second edition of which was released in December 2006. For recreation, he enjoys, running, reading, and writing fiction, some of which is posted on his Web page.



Lecture materials are for educational purposes ONLY. We request that the use of any of these materials include an acknowledgement of the presenter and the Hot Science - Cool Talks of the Environmental Science Institute. Also include the disclaimer: May not be duplicated or commercially distributed as they are intended for education and private/classroom audiences.

The Hot Science - Cool Talks Outreah Lecture Series is sponsored by the AT&T Foundation and ConocoPhilips.
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Last modified: September 18, 2008
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