Short talks

5.15pm - 5.45pm

Earth 2.0: A matter of time

The search for Earth 2.0 is not a question of if, but when. Since the milestone discovery of the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star in 1995, our catalogue of alien worlds has expanded to include a breathtaking variety of planets. Among them are the hot Jupiters—giant planets orbiting closer to their stars than Mercury to our Sun—and the evaporating sub-Neptunes, which are losing their atmospheres as dramatically as water boiling in a saucepan. These exotic planets ignite our imagination and curiosity about the cosmos. However, a key question remains at the forefront of our explorations: Is Earth unique, or are there other habitable planets out there? Although we've identified several planets in the 'Goldilocks zone,' where conditions could allow liquid water to exist, a true Earth twin remains elusive. 

Hauntingly Beautiful Secrets of Planets beyond the Solar System   

Imagine waking up one morning to what sounds like rain outside your window. But when you peek outside, you realize it's not water falling, but 'grains of glass' or 'iron drops.' Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, right? Well, it's real, happening on some of the planets within and beyond our solar system. Surprisingly, there is an exoplanet in the 'Big Dipper' where the temperature doubles in just 6 hours due to a mysterious 'hot spot.' Even our cousins, Uranus and Neptune, experience literal 'diamond rainfall'! The list of bizarre exoplanets exhibiting such sci-fi characteristics seems endless. These distant planets have captured the imaginations of scientists and space lovers alike. Their strange atmospheres create some pretty wild weather, like these peculiar rainfalls. Let's dive into how we find these planets and what makes their atmospheres so special. And who knows? Maybe one day, someone will get to visit these distant worlds! The excitement is real, folks! As we journey through the cosmos, we can't help but wonder: what if we stumbled upon extraterrestrial life forms? The thought sends shivers down our spines, but it's an exhilarating possibility we can't ignore. Who knows what intriguing encounters await us in the depths of space? 

Sonifying Astronomy Images: Creating Music From Space

Join us as we explore Sonification, a process that combines art and science to produce music from amazing astronomy images taken from Macquarie University's very own Huntsman Telescope. We will explore the use of computer vision to identify celestial objects and how it can be used to create a sensory experience that anyone can enjoy. Prepare to explore the connection of what we see in the universe to what we hear, bridging sight and sound in an open and accessible manner. 

6pm - 6.30pm

Scaling the Universe: How Astronomers Measure Cosmic Distances 

Ever wondered how scientists know how far away stars and galaxies are? Join us on an exciting adventure through space as we explore the Cosmic Ladder! We'll learn about the cool tricks astronomers use to measure the universe, like seeing how stars shift, using special stars that act like cosmic lighthouses, and even super-bright explosions. Get ready to discover how these amazing tools help us understand the size and age of the universe. Whether you’re a future astronaut or just love looking at the night sky, this presentation will show you the incredible ways we explore the cosmos! 

Seeing Stars: A Brief History of Photography and imaging in Astronomy 

When photography was invented in the 1820s, it allowed astronomers to observe objects and phenomenon that aren’t detectable by a human eye. From the first images of the moon with the daguerreotype, to images of the earliest known galaxies from the Hubble Deep Field, this talk will take a peek at how imaging technologies are pushing the limits of astronomy. 

Follow the Starlight 

Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered what stars are made of, and how we know this? Join this exciting journey as we explore how astronomers use the light from stars to determine their composition through a fascinating technique called spectroscopy. By analysing the colours and patterns from the starlight, astronomers can identify the elements within stars, revealing a cosmic recipe that includes hydrogen, helium, carbon, and iron- elements that ultimately form us. We'll delve into how these stellar fingerprints are decoded, unveiling the stories and discoveries that have shaped our understanding of the universe. Join us as we "Follow the Starlight" to uncover the secrets of the twinkling stars.   

6.45pm - 7.15pm

Beyond the Stars: Exploring the Power of AI/ML in Astronomy 

In this era of big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have emerged to be at the heart of many technologies we use, reshaping the way we interact with data. This presentation will explore the realm of AI and its revolutionary role in astronomy, cosmology, and even astrology. From identifying celestial objects in vast sky surveys to (controversially) giving relationship compatibility predictions, we will discuss the applications, methodologies, as well as the challenges of AI. 

Evil Astrophysics – Using Pulsars as a Supervillian 

Nature has given us a remarkable clock in space, the pulsar, that we scientists use in some of our most mind-boggling experiments. But these exotic objects have a dark side to them, they are nasty to everything around them, sterilising their environments for millions of years. So, how much damage could an evil supervillain do if they were to harness the power of a pulsar? In this talk, I'll explore some of the science of what makes pulsars both remarkable and scary, whilst tapping into some science fiction on what could happen if this power fell into the wrong hands. 

Exploring Space and Sustainable Living: The Role of Synthetic Biology 

As humanity pushes towards deeper space exploration, agencies like NASA and companies like SpaceX are gearing up to return humans to the Moon and ultimately to land on Mars within the next few decades. One of the biggest hurdles for these long-duration missions is ensuring a sustainable supply of essential resources such as food, medicines, and other necessities without relying heavily on shipments from Earth.

Synthetic biology offers a promising solution to this challenge. By programming microorganisms and plants with specific genetic instructions, scientists can potentially turn them into efficient factories for producing these vital resources in space. This technology not only supports space missions but also holds significant promise for addressing agricultural and industrial challenges on Earth. By enhancing our ability to produce essential goods locally and sustainably, synthetic biology could reduce our dependence on fragile natural ecosystems while increasing our self-sufficiency. 

7.30pm - 8.30pm

Big Science with Big Telescopes

Astronomers have constructed telescopes to observe celestial objects across our vast Universe over many centuries, and as technology advanced, they have built larger and larger telescopes to search deeper and further. Today, telescopes and their accompanying instruments are so large and complex they require decades of work and huge financial commitments. In this Keynote, Distinguished Professor Jon Lawrence will outline the next generation of ‘extremely large telescopes,’ describing key technologies needed for these facilities, and explain the crucial role played by AAO at Macquarie University in this field.