AstroOnTap Potsdam: Talk "Cosmic Engines: How Massive Stars Shape the Universe"

Massive stars, those with at least eight times the mass of the sun, are often called cosmic engines. This is because their strong radiation fields, powerful stellar winds, and dramatic final supernova explosions have a tremendous impact on their surroundings. Also, their extreme temperatures and luminosities allow them to push nuclear fusion to its limit, making them responsible for producing a big part of the chemical elements we know today. For this reason, they are directly involved in driving the chemical evolution of the galaxies. In this talk, I will review their lives from birth to death, covering their different evolutionary phases. I will also go over different processes that affect their evolution and lifepaths, such as stellar winds, rotation, and binarity. Finally, I will explain how I work with these stars and how we use the most powerful telescopes in the world to study them and unravel their secrets.

Come by and get to know current research by our Potsdam astrophysicists at the AstroOnTap Potsdam event series, and put your astronomical trivia knowledge to the test in the pub quiz. Maybe your team will even win the highly desired trophy?

Both the talk and pub quiz will be held in English, however, the speaker is also capable of being asked and answering your burning questions in German.

Admission is FREE and no registration is needed!