This talk explores the Universe’s journey from its homogeneous beginnings after the Big Bang to the formation of stars from primordial hydrogen and helium. Through nuclear fusion, stars produced light elements, and their dramatic deaths as supernovae forged elements up to iron. The Zwicky Transient Facility, a cutting-edge 2-telescope project, systematically studies the dynamic Universe. The speaker will discuss remarkable discoveries, including super-luminous supernovae, new transient phenomena, supernova progenitors, planets being engulfed by aging stars, and an abundance of pulsating and binary stars.

Speaker

Shrinivas R. Kulkarni, George Ellery Hale Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

In collaboration with

Center for Astrophysics and Space Science