New edition of the Outreach Series on Fundamental Physics

• The IFT returns to the Residencia de Estudiantes once again for Science Week on November 7, 14, and 15.

The highly anticipated lecture series on fundamental physics returns for another year, commemorating Science Week in November. On November 7, 14, and 15, IFT physicists will present 5 public talks on topics as diverse as machine learning, primordial black holes, dark matter, quantum entanglement, and string theory.

Admission is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.

PROGRAM

November 7

• 6:00 PM
  
  Creating Dark Matter in a Large Laboratory: The LHC by José Miguel No

• In this talk, IFT researcher José Miguel No will delve into one of the greatest mysteries of modern physics: dark matter. Despite accounting for approximately 27% of the universe, its nature remains elusive. We will explore how physicists are using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to attempt to create and detect dark matter particles in controlled laboratory conditions.

• 7:30 PM
  
  Primordial Black Holes: The Dark Matter of the Universe? by Juan García-Bellido

• Cosmologist and IFT researcher Juan García-Bellido, a member of prestigious international collaborations, leads cutting-edge work on primordial black holes, those that may have formed in the early universe and could explain mysteries such as dark matter.

November 8 CANCELLED

• 6:00 PM
  
  The Cosmic Recipe and Its Secret Ingredients by Olga Mena, researcher at IFIC
• In this talk, we will learn about the "darkness" of our cosmos, its secret and unknown ingredients such as dark matter and dark energy, and how we've come to understand them through the traces they left in the history of the cosmos. These traces also hold clues to decipher the future of the universe.
• Some "stars" were also “dark,” unable to shine in their time, but their light and brilliance will illuminate science for eternity, and their role will be highlighted in our presentation.

November 14

• 6:00 PM

• Searching for Needles in a Quantum Haystack: Machine Learning at the LHC by Rosa María Sandá, IFT researcher

• In this talk, Rosa Sandá Seoane will explore how machine learning has transformed our ability to detect and study subatomic particles at the LHC, allowing us to extract valuable information from vast amounts of data and improve the precision of experiments. By analyzing billions of subatomic collisions, the LHC embarks on a mission to unravel the mysteries of fundamental physics. In this vast sea of data, artificial intelligence becomes the best ally to identify signals of elusive particles like the Higgs boson and explore the depths of the quantum universe. Rosa will present specific examples of how these techniques have been crucial to landmark discoveries and their current application in the search for signs of new physics beyond the Standard Model, as well as the challenges and opportunities these tools present in exploring an unknown universe.

• 7:30 PM

• Quantum Entanglement and Time: Can the Past Be Rewritten? by Juan Antonio Aguilar Saavedra, IFT researcher

• This talk explores, from the perspective of quantum mechanics, one of the most intriguing and philosophical questions: can the past be rewritten? Entangled particles appear to share information instantaneously, regardless of the distance between them, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists since Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen proposed their famous paradox.

November 15

• 6:00 PM

  String Theory at the Frontier of Knowledge by Irene Valenzuela, IFT/CERN researcher

  The distinguished theoretical physicist is currently a member of the theoretical division at CERN (European Laboratory for Particle Physics) and IFT. Valenzuela has made significant contributions to the fields of high-energy physics and string theory. In commemoration of CERN’s 70th anniversary, one of the world’s leading centers for particle physics research, this talk will explore the frontier of our understanding of the universe.

A Legendary Lecture Series

With over a decade of history, the IFT and the Residencia’s fundamental physics lecture series is now an institution in scientific outreach. Each year, the series gathers dozens of people in the auditorium of the historic Colina de los Chopos. Additionally, the talks can be re-watched on the IFT’s YouTube channel.