This lecture is open to all and recommended for the general public and students above 9th grade.

Title: Catching a Supermassive Black Hole in the Act

Speaker: Dr. Adi Foord (KIPAC/Stanford University)

Abstract: Supermassive black holes remain some of the most elusive engines in our Universe. However, after decades of observations and over 1 million of them cataloged, certain aspects of their formation and growth still remain unknown. Combining large amount of observational data with state-of-the-art computer simulations, we are slowly unraveling the mysteries that surround their evolution through cosmic time. In this talk, Dr. Adi Foord will discuss the effort to understand how supermassive black holes grow in and with their host galaxies, how they impact their surrounding environments in the process, and how mergers play an important role in their evolution. She will also highlight some of the unanswered questions regarding the lifecycle of these elusive engines, as well as commenting on the recent imaging of the Milky Way supermassive black hole.

For more event information, please visit https://kipac.stanford.edu/discover.