Oberlin College Physics & Astronomy Lecture Series: Ellis Owen

"Cosmic Rays: The Hidden Architects of Galaxy Evolution"

Cosmic rays are tiny subatomic particles that race through space at nearly the speed of light. Born in some of the Universe’s most violent and extreme places, like exploding stars and black holes, these nearly invisible particles are surprisingly powerful. They can heat interstellar gas and push matter around, shaping the evolution of entire galaxies. In this talk, I will show how we track and measure the effects of these hidden architects using high-energy radiation (X-rays, gamma rays) and ghostly particles (neutrinos), and how their study may unlock long-standing mysteries about how galaxies form and evolve.