Guest Speaker: Michael Turner (Kavli Foundation and University of Chicago)
Talk Title: "How many numbers does it take to determine our Universe?"
Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019 - 4:00pm
Series: Saxon Lecture
Thursday October 3, 2019, 4:00-5:00 pm
1-434 Physics and Astronomy (map)
Reception from 3:15-3:30 p.m. (unless otherwise posted)
Abstract: Over the past three decades our understanding of the Universe has deepened. The WMAP and Planck teams have
asserted that just six numbers are needed to describe the whole Universe (fewer than the ten digits in a phone number),
based upon their high-precision, all-sky maps of the Cosmic Microwave Background. Others have different opinions: one,
two, a different six, and nine to determine our Universe. As I will discuss, the choice of numbers reveals much about
what we know, our aspirations, and how we think about the Universe. After exploring the landscape, I will advocate for
zero!
For more information, contact Yaroslav Tserkovnyak
We thank the following people for their contributions to the wine fund for the post-colloquium reception: Professors Katsushi Arisaka, Andrea Ghez, Karoly Holczer, Huan Huang, HongWen Jiang, Per Kraus, Alexander Kusenko, Matthew Malkan, Mayank Mehta, Warren Mori, Ni Ni, Seth Putterman, Yaroslav Tserkovnyak, Vladimir Vassiliev, Shenshen Wang, and Nathan Whitehorn.