The (Life and) Death of Stars: Where the Elements Around Us Form

Come join us for our monthly Astronomy talk!

7:30pm-8pm: Social time with snacks

8pm: Talk begin

Talk: The (Life and) Death of Stars: Where the Elements Around Us Form

Description: From the oxygen we breathe to the gold in our jewelry and the calcium in our bones, the majority of periodic table elements that make up our world are forged by stars. This talk explores how the universe transforms simple hydrogen into the rich diversity of atoms that build planets, life, and everything we see around us. Beginning their lives in vast clouds of gas and ending in massive explosions, we will discover how each star in the night sky creates and scatters ingredients for new worlds throughout their evolution. By tracing this stellar alchemy, we uncover how true it is to say that we are all just stardust.

Speaker: Natalie LeBaron is a 4th-year PhD student in the Astronomy Department at UC Berkeley. She studies the visible and near infrared light from supernova explosions of massive stars to learn about the elements and molecules they synthesize and interact with. This work informs understanding of how the chemical composition of our solar system and the Earth came to be as newer stars like our Sun are formed out of the dust produced by supernovae and older stars. Natalie is passionate about science outreach, mentorship, and removing barriers within STEM education.

Image sources: the speaker, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10543, https://esawebb.org/images/weic2326a/

About the event:

Many of SJAA’s events, like this one, are public and free to attend, but if you’re enjoying what SJAA has to offer, consider becoming a paid member for only $20 per year: https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/