Chemistry in the Cosmos: From Simplicity to Complexity
- Speaker
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Amiel Sternberg, Ph.D.Senior Research Scientist, Galaxy Formation, CCA, Flatiron Institute
Presidential Lectures are a series of free public colloquia spotlighting groundbreaking research across four themes: neuroscience and autism science, physics, biology, and mathematics and computer science. These curated, high-level scientific talks feature leading scientists and mathematicians and are designed to foster discussion and drive discovery within the New York City research community. We invite those interested in these topics to join us for this weekly lecture series.
The chemical makeup of the universe has evolved over billions of years. The first atoms were mostly hydrogen with a bit of helium and traces of lithium and beryllium. Since then, processes such as nuclear fusion in stars and exploding supernovae have forged new elements and altered the composition of the cosmos.
In this lecture, Amiel Sternberg will present an overview of chemistry in the cosmos, from the formation of the first stars in the early universe to present-day galaxies and the stellar and planetary systems that they contain. The chemical composition of the interstellar medium in galaxies, including the Milky Way, plays an essential role in the thermal and dynamical evolution of gravitationally collapsing star-forming molecular clouds and the formation of protoplanetary disks and systems. A rich interstellar inventory, from simple diatomic molecules to an array of multi-atom organic species, traces the growth of complexity in the universe, including the habitable zones required for the emergence of life.