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The High Energy Universe

View the sky through an x-ray telescope and the conception of the universe changes dramatically. Black holes are best seen in x-rays, because impinging gas collides with the black hole at near light speed, resulting in intense x-ray and gamma ray emission.

The Clockwork God: Isaac Newton and the Mechanical Universe

Isaac Newton saw his demonstration of the regularity of the universe as having great religious significance. Newton’s ideas were initially seen as very supportive of religion; yet within 50 years, they were being seen in a very different light.

How Special Is Our Universe?

Theories of the multiverse suggest that life-containing universes are incredibly rare. We live in one of these, whether by cosmological natural selection or by the consequences of a theory yet to be formulated.

Half a Century of Heart Transplantation

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the first human heart transplant. This talk will celebrate that achievement and consider what we have learned over those 50 years and what is to happen in the future.

Watching the Heavens: Astronomy and the Meaning of Life

What did the sky-watchers of the ancient world think about the night sky, and its implications for human existence? Moving on to the great discoveries of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo, we will consider the basic science and ask about the deeper significance of these discoveries.

Are We Alone In The Universe?

The answer to ‘are we alone?’ affects our claim for being special in the cosmos, and we shall never know unless we search.

How Were The Stars Formed?

Professor Silk, Gresham Professor of Astronomy, opens his lecture series with the question 'How Were The Stars Formed?'

Nice Work If You Can Get It: Life as a Children's Heart Surgeon

Few people are lucky enough to save lives or change them for the better. Few also experience the horror of losing lives or worsening them. In this lecture I want to share some of the astonishing experiences of a paediatric heart surgeon.

Observing the Dark Ages

An exploration of a time when there were no stars or galaxies, and the universe was transparent - how were the first indications of the state of the universe in the dark ages discovered?

I Won't Have Blood! A Battle Between Belief and Duty?

There is a tension between clinical teams and the families of devout Jehovah’s Witnesses. This lecture explores that tension, and considers how we might perform open-heart surgery without blood.

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