Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Description of Activity
Talk entitled 'Supernovae: Superheroes of the Universe.'
Supernovae are the explosions of stars. They are some of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, rivalling the combined light of billions of stars. In this talk, astrophysicist Or Graur will be your guide to these awe-inspiring astronomical phenomena. He will explain how a deep observational understanding of supernovae why and how they shine and how their brightness changes over time allows us to use them as tools for experiments in astrophysics and physics. He will also reveal how supernovae may also have caused a mass extinction event on Earth 2.6 million years ago, how they played a role in the transformation of astronomy from astrology to astrophysics; and describe the lives and deaths of stars and the supernova remnants, neutron stars, and black holes they leave behind.