December 3, 2025
6:00 pm
-
8:00 pm
Performance Hall, Ohio Union
Title: From lasers & styrofoam to diamond rain, and other improbable stories
Speaker: Dr. Jillian Scudder (Oberlin College)
Abstract:
You may have heard it rains diamonds on Neptune, but less well known is the tale of how and why we know this and other odd-sounding facts about outer space. I'll take you on a tour of some of the more unexpected things we've learned about our Universe, and how we've come to these conclusions. Be prepared for raising the stellar dead, toxic clouds of gas, and of course, lasers and styrofoam.
Dr. Jillian Scudder is an Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy at Oberlin College. In addition to teaching at the undergraduate level, and her research on understanding nearby gas rich galaxies, she is the author of 3 books on astronomy aimed at the general public. Her short form writing can also be found on Forbes, The Independent, Nautilus, and more.