September 30, 2022 8-10PM

Event Type: Lecture and Stargazing
Title: The Mystery of Cosmic Rays
Lecturer: Kathryn Plant
Position: PhD Candidate
Institution: Caltech
Abstract:
Cosmic rays are tiny particles traveling all over our Galaxy at almost the speed of light, and figuring out their origin is one of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics. The search for the genesis of cosmic rays takes us on a tour of some of the strangest things in outer space: black holes, exploding stars, and even the tenuous shock waves of the Galactic wind. How can we measure such tiny, rare particles as they speed through space? The study of cosmic rays helped push the development of modern physics, continues to involve exciting new instruments and creative detection techniques, and even sheds light on some puzzles here on Earth.