Our Universe Revealed, Part 1: New Light on Old Stars

Episode Topic: New Light on Old Stars

The chemical diversity of the universe that makes our own existence possible is owed to multiple generations of stars that converted the primordial soup of hydrogen and helium into the periodic table we know today. To understand this process, Roman Gerasimov looks for the oldest objects in our galaxy that formed shortly after the beginning of time and preserve the fossilized record of the early universe in their chemical composition. The new generation of observatories, including the James Webb Space Telescope, now provide a deeper look into our cosmic history than ever before. Gerasimov invites you to join him in his search for the oldest stars in the least explored corners of our galaxy, and the chemical secrets they contain within.

Featured Speakers:

• Roman Gerasimov, University of Notre Dame 

Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/bb60e9.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled Our Universe Revealed.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Speaker Background
• 6:17 The Importance of Oxygen in Stars
• 24:38 Introduction to the James Webb Space Telescope
• 30:45 Distant Galaxies and the Power of James Webb Telescope
• 39:44 Challenges and Future Research Directions
• 43:12 Audience Q&A: Insights and Clarifications
• 59:10 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events