Did We Really Land On The Moon?
Professor Martin Hendry MBE FRSE
Nearly 50 years after Apollo 11 there are a surprising number of theories around – in books, documentary programmes and the internet – that Neil Armstrong’s famous “One small step” was an elaborate hoax, filmed in secret here on Earth. Conspiracy theorists point to a range of “evidence” to support their claim, including waving flags, strange shadows, no stars in the sky and deadly solar radiation. In this talk, using real Apollo video footage and a series of simple practical demonstrations, Martin Hendry takes a closer look at the science behind “moon hoax” claims, and asks whether we really did land on the Moon.
Exploring The Dark Side Of The Universe
Professor Martin Hendry MBE FRSE
We live in a very strange universe in which less than 5% of all the matter and energy exists in the form of atoms while the other 95% comprises “dark matter” and “dark energy” – the exact nature of which is one of the biggest unanswered mysteries in science. Join Professor Martin Hendry on a whistle-stop tour through nearly fourteen billion years of cosmic history and explore the very latest theories of the Big Bang.
Gravitational Waves
Professor Giles Hammond FRSE
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave observatory comprises two detectors located in Hanford, WA and Livingston LA. These detectors are 4km long Fabry-Perot Michelson interferometers and the most sensitive length measuring devices in the world. They are able to sense a change equivalent to 1/1000th the diameter of a proton over their 4km baseline. This talk describes the technology development necessary to realise the LIGO detectors, and also describes the gravitational wave signals that have been observed from binary black hole systems. The talk also provides insight into the astrophysics which can be gained from these “dark systems”, only observable by listening to the Universe.
Listening To Einstein’s Universe: The Discovery Of Gravitational Waves
Professor Martin Hendry MBE FRSE
On September 14th 2015 two giant laser interferometers known as LIGO, the most sensitive scientific instruments ever built, detected gravitational waves from the merger of a pair of massive black holes more than a billion light years from the Earth. Join Professor Martin Hendry as he recounts the inside story of this remarkable discovery – hailed by many as the scientific breakthrough of the century. Learn about the amazing technology behind the LIGO detectors, which can measure the signatures of spacetime ripples less than a million millionth the width of a human hair, and explore the exciting future that lies ahead for gravitational-wave astronomy as we open an entirely new window on the Universe.
Ripples Of Gravity, Flashes Of Light: The Dawn Of Multimessenger Astronomy
Professor Martin Hendry MBE FRSE
The first ever direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015, from the collision of two massive black holes more than a billion light years away, has been widely hailed as the biggest scientific breakthrough of the decade and led to the award of the 2017 Nobel Prize for Physics. August 2017 then saw another spectacular discovery – as for the first-time gravitational waves and light were detected from the same cosmic source: a pair of colliding neutron stars 130 million light years away. Join LIGO scientist Professor Martin Hendry as he explores the amazing technology behind the detection of gravitational waves, and what their discovery might soon tell us about some of the biggest unsolved mysteries in physics and astronomy.
The Dark Side Of The Universe
Professor Giles Hammond FRSE
In this talk we will explore the mysteries of the Universe. Building from the concepts of measuring the distance to faint galaxies and the Doppler shift of light, we will look in detail at the current observations that indicate that over 95% of Universe is made up of a strange form of matter called Dark Matter and Dark Energy. The ultimate fate of the Universe will also be discussed, including current observations that suggest the expansion rate is accelerating, and its implications for our understanding of cosmology and particle physics.
The Physics Of Rainbows
Professor Giles Hammond FRSE
Rainbows are beautiful natural phenomena; they are seen when it is both raining and the sun is out. But why do we see the colours in a rainbow, and why do all rainbows show the same colouring in the primary and secondary bows? This talk will discuss how light is split up into its constituent colours, and how these colours are separated in the raindrop. We will further explore why rainbows are circular, why they have no end and why the colours in the primary and secondary bow are interchanged.
The Science Of Star Wars
Professor Martin Hendry MBE FRSE
Since 1977 generations of moviegoers have marvelled at the Star Wars universe. But how much real science is up there on the big screen? Could we ever travel to other planets, crossing the vast distances between star systems using shortcuts through hyperspace? What kinds of alien worlds might exist in our Universe, and could they bear life forms that resemble the creatures found in Star Wars? Could a Jedi Knight really fight with a light sabre? Could the Death Star really blow up a planet? In this lecture astrophysicist and life-long Star Wars fan Professor Martin Hendry explores the science of Star Wars and feels the force!
What Goes Up
Dr Patrick Harkness
We are used to the idea of gravity simply attracting objects towards the Earth, but it also has some rather surprising effects in space. Gravitational forces are at least partially responsible for the Earth’s ocean tides, volcanism on Jupiter’s moons, and the stability of Saturn’s spectacular ring system. In fact, we can even exploit gravitational forces to accelerate spacecraft away from the Sun through manoeuvres called gravitational slingshots. This talk, with some accessible demonstrations involving bouncing ‘planets’, will show how all these different effects arise from one single relationship proposed by Isaac Newton many hundreds of years ago.
Why Are We Here?
Professor Martin Hendry MBE FRSE
Modern cosmology provides some startling answers to the question “why are we here?” Not only have we learned that our universe expanding but the expansion appears to be accelerating – driven by a mysterious “dark energy” which challenges our ideas about gravity and the very nature of space and time. Moreover our runaway universe is rather delicately balanced: small changes in the laws of nature would result in a very different cosmos – most likely unsuitable for life like us. Join Professor Martin Hendry as he explores the very latest theories of the cosmos and what they might mean for the existence of life in the universe.
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