From Gas into Galaxies: Just Add Gravity!

Galaxies, like our own Milky Way, are not eternal or changeless. They are born in the early universe out of massive clouds of gas. In their early years, they experience rapid growth, forming lots of new stars out of the matter that streams in to feed them. As teenagers, they collide with other galaxies, setting off massive new bursts of star formation and growing large black holes at their centers. From there, they settle down into a sustainable mode, forming stars reliably (to pay the mortgage!) and only occasionally having a run-in with another galaxy. Finally, in their old age, they retire from the star-formation business and relax, coasting out the rest of time with their dwindling supply of stars. This talk will trace the life-cycle of galaxies, large and small, from the early universe to the present. Come learn about the origins and the ultimate fate of this "island universe" we call the Milky Way!

Speaker: Genevieve Graves, UC Berkeley

Room 100