Cosmic Collisions at the Hearts of Galaxies

Smadar Naoz Professor / UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy

The centers of galaxies are among the most crowded places in the universe. There, millions of stars orbit a supermassive black hole, passing one another at extraordinary speeds. In this cosmic traffic jam, gravity can bring two or more stars together, send stars flying across the galaxy, or drive them into spectacular collisions. Some stars merge and are reborn; others are torn apart, and some encounters may produce black holes, gravitational waves, and brilliant flashes of light. In this talk, we will explore the surprising lives and deaths of stars in the chaotic hearts of galaxies.

Recommended grade level: 3–5th