'Oumuamua: Our first interstellar visitor - Chris Lintott

00:00 // Introduction: The Nature of Scientific Discovery
02:00 // The Story of ‘Oumuamua’s Discovery
05:30 // Traditional vs. Chaotic Science: How Discoveries Happen
10:15 // Asteroid and Comet Studies: OSIRIS-REx and Bennu
15:45 // The DART Mission: Planetary Defense Against Asteroids
22:30 // The Orion Nebula: Star and Planet Formation
30:00 // Understanding Protoplanetary Disks and Planet Formation
38:45 // The Mystery of ‘Oumuamua’s Shape and Motion
44:10 // Unusual Acceleration: A Natural or Artificial Object?
50:00 // Comet Borisov: The Second Interstellar Visitor
55:30 // What ‘Oumuamua Tells Us About the Universe

In 2017, the Solar System was visited by an object named 'Oumuamua, which came from another star. The unusual properties of this first interstellar visitor led some to suggest it may be an alien spacecraft - but the truth is that its oddness is already teaching us lessons about how solar systems form.

This lecture also considers the prospects of discovering more unusual objects in the Solar System, and what we might do about asteroids that threaten the Earth.

This lecture was recorded by Professor Chris Lintott on 24th January 2024 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London

Chris is Gresham Professor of Astronomy.

He is also a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, and a Research Fellow at New College.

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/speakers/pr...

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/o...

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