150 London Wall
London EC2Y 5HN
UK
If the fundamental constants of nature differed from their measured values, life as we know it would not have emerged. Stars are witness to the forces of electromagnetism and gravity – displace this equilibrium and the existence of nuclear-burning stars is at risk. In such a universe, stars would never have formed, or might have collapsed to black holes.
Theories of the multiverse suggest that life-containing universes are incredibly rare. We live in one of these, whether by cosmological natural selection or by the consequences of a theory yet to be formulated.
Gresham Professor of Astronomy, Joseph Silk FRS, is a research scientist, leading expert on the early universe, a Balzan Prize winner and one of the world’s most sought-after science communicators. He is the 37th Gresham Professor of Astronomy. His predecessors include Sir Christopher Wren in 1657.
No reservations are required for this lecture. It will be run on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the lecture.
Read more at https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/how-special-is-our-universe