Professor Wilkins talk will be on ‘How do galaxies form? Why do stars gather into vast cosmic webs? And what role do dark matter and black holes play in shaping the Universe we see today? While telescopes allow us to observe the cosmos, another powerful approach is to recreate it inside a computer.’

He will show how astronomers build “virtual universes” by combining the laws of physics with some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. Starting just after the Big Bang, these simulations follow the growth of cosmic structure over billions of years, revealing how galaxies, stars, and black holes form and evolve. He will explain how these virtual universes help us interpret observations from telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope and how they are guiding the next generation of discoveries.  He will also explore both what simulations can tell us—and the mysteries they have yet to solve.

Doors open 7pm for a 7.30 start

Methodist Hall, Chipping Norton