A portrait of Professor Duncan Lorimer (copyright West Virginia University)
Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser

31st Hintze Public Lecture: Professor Duncan Lorimer

16 Jun 2026
Public talks and lectures
Alumni events
Time
-
Venue
Martin Wood Complex, Department of Physics, 91探花, Parks Road, 91探花, OX1 3PU
Speaker(s)

Professor , FRS, West Virginia University

Knowledge of physics?
No, knowledge of physics not required
For more information contact

The Brightest Pulses In The Universe

31st Hintze Public Lecture will be delivered by from , USA. The public lecture will be hosted in person at the Martin Wood Complex, and streamed online via Zoom (link below). For those attending in person, the talk will be followed by a drinks reception. No registration is required, please be seated by 16:55hs.

Abstract:

Almost two decades ago, our group at West Virginia University discovered a new cosmic phenomenon now known as fast radio bursts (FRBs). While the precise origins of FRBs are still unknown, they are likely to be linked to powerful events on or in the vicinity of neutron stars. FRBs are now being used as insightful probes of the large-scale structure of the Universe. In this talk, I recount the story of the discovery, highlight some of the main discoveries to date and comment on the role of serendipity in science while looking ahead to the future of this field.

The Hintze lectures highlight contemporary developments in astrophysics and cosmology and are generously funded by the Hintze Family Charitable Foundation