Nobel Prize-recipient astrophysicist Adam Riess will present the most recent findings regarding the expanding cosmos in his public talk, “The Unexpected Expansion History of the Universe,” which is part of this year’s Dirac Lectures organized by the Florida State University Department of Physics.
Riess, the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and Thomas J. Barber Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University, will elaborate on how his team uncovered the acceleration of the universe and why grasping the essence of so-called “dark energy” constitutes one of the most significant ongoing hurdles in astrophysics.
The Dirac Lectures honor the legacy of Paul Dirac, a former FSU Physics faculty member, Nobel Laureate, and the eponym of the Dirac Science Library. These presentations aim to bring exceptional speakers to FSU to discuss noteworthy physics subjects for both professional physicists and the wider public.
Riess’ public lecture is scheduled for:
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
7 P.M.
AUDITORIUM OF THE FSU EARTH, OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE BUILDING
1011 ACADEMIC WAY
TALLAHASSEE, FLA.
“We are thrilled to host Professor Riess at Florida State for this engaging presentation,” stated Jorge Piekarewicz, a professor in the Department of Physics and organizer of the Dirac Lectures. “His revelation that the universe is expanding at an increasingly rapid pace is a significant advancement in our comprehension of astrophysics.”
Riess’ investigations encompass the study of the cosmological structure using supernovae (exploding stars) and Cepheids (pulsating stars). Presently, he leads the SH0ES (Supernova, H0, for the Equation of State of Dark Energy) research group, striving to refine the measurement of the Hubble Constant, and the Higher-z Team, which aims to locate and assess the farthest type Ia supernovae to investigate the origins of cosmic acceleration.
In addition to Riess, the FSU Department of Physics will welcome guest speakers David Schlegel, senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Licia Verde, professor at the University of Barcelona. Verde will deliver her lecture titled, “ΛCDM Status,” while Schlegel will present “3-D Cosmic Maps from DESI and Future Redshift Surveys.” Their recent discoveries were featured in The New York Times. Riess will additionally conduct two lectures for a professional physics audience, “Dark Energy,” and “Hubble Constant Tension.”
The FSU Department of Physics initiated the Dirac Lectures in 2007. Past guest lecturers have discussed topics including neutrinos in nuclear physics, gravitational waves, quantum information science, and more.
For further details and lecture information, visit the Dirac Lecture webpage.
The article FSU Physics Dirac Lectures: Nobel Laureate to give public lecture on expansion of the universe first appeared on Florida State University News.