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You are warmly invited to the 2026 Higgs Lecture featuring renowned astrophysicist and Nobel Laureate Professor Michel Mayor. From one planetary system to billions: A new era in exoplanet discovery In recent decades, astrophysics has transformed our understanding of the universe. We now know that our Solar System is just one among billions in existence, each with its own planets. As new telescopes on Earth and in space reveal an astonishing diversity of worlds, scientists are focusing on a profound question: how many of these planets might resemble Earth? And could any support life? In his talk, Michel will explore how this emerging picture of a universe with multiple potential habitats is reshaping how we explore, observe, and imagine our place among the stars. Abstract: Plurality of Worlds: Our era has transformed this dream, present since antiquity, into a living scientific field of astrophysics. While the idea of the existence of numerous planetary systems was very present in the public as early as the 17th century, astronomers in the first half of the 20th century believed that the solar system was unique in the Galaxy! But a major paradigm shift occurred in 1952, when it was estimated that there were several billion such systems. Research over the last 30 years has revealed the astonishing diversity of planetary systems and their ubiquity. In particular, the number of rocky planets in the habitable zone of their host star is also enormous. Could some of these Earth-like planets harbor life? Is it possible to answer this question? It is a fascinating question on the agenda for telescopes on Earth and in space. Agenda: 17:30 - Registration opens 18:00 - Lecture by Professor Michel Mayor 18:50 - Q&A 19:00 - Event ends

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