MIfA Public Lecture

We are excited to invite you to the 13th MIfA Public Lecture, where Professor Keith Olive will share insights into the early universe. This event is a chance to explore recent astrophysical discoveries and hear the latest updates from MIfA. We hope you'll join us for an intriguing and thought-provoking evening! 

Over the last few decades, our knowledge of cosmology and the universe around us has exploded. Through a series of land- and space-based observations, it has become possible to identify a Standard Cosmological Model. However, everything we see today was set up in the very early stages of the evolution of the Universe. 

This lecture will explore key events from those early times, starting with the inflationary universe, which began when the universe was an unimaginably small fraction of a second old. It will also cover ideas about the absence of antimatter, the formation of nuclei, and the eventual formation of galaxies and large-scale structures.

The Early Universe: A Journey to the Origin of Time

Over the last few decades, our knowledge of Cosmology and the Universe around us has exploded.  Through a series of land- and space-based observations,  it has become possible to identify a Standard Cosmological Model. However, everything we see today was set up in the very early stages of the  evolution of the Universe. For reference the age of the Universe is 13.6 billion years.But most all of the conditions leading to our present state were established when the Universe was less than a few minutes old! This lecture will explore the key events at those early times starting with the inflationary Universe which began when the age was an unimaginable fraction of a second old. Ideas behind the absence of antimatter, the formation of nuclei, and the eventual formation of galaxies large scale structures will also be explored.