it is a lark winter night and the city is getting ready to go to sleep in a big
is getting ready to go to sleep in a big
is getting ready to go to sleep in a big apartment building a kitchen window is
apartment building a kitchen window is
apartment building a kitchen window is lit on the other side a young woman and
lit on the other side a young woman and
lit on the other side a young woman and her daughter are looking into the
her daughter are looking into the
her daughter are looking into the darkness and pointing at the Stars
darkness and pointing at the Stars
darkness and pointing at the Stars the woman is telling stories feeding the
the woman is telling stories feeding the
the woman is telling stories feeding the growing curiosity of her daughter but
growing curiosity of her daughter but
growing curiosity of her daughter but questions keep coming if I had to look
questions keep coming if I had to look
questions keep coming if I had to look back that would be the first time I
back that would be the first time I
back that would be the first time I recall looking up at the sky we all
recall looking up at the sky we all
recall looking up at the sky we all share similar memories stargazing nights
share similar memories stargazing nights
share similar memories stargazing nights with family or friends
with family or friends
with family or friends hoping to see a shooting star to make a
hoping to see a shooting star to make a
hoping to see a shooting star to make a wish and I wonder how many of you tried
wish and I wonder how many of you tried
wish and I wonder how many of you tried to count stars how many of you felt
to count stars how many of you felt
to count stars how many of you felt intimidated by the size of the universe
intimidated by the size of the universe
intimidated by the size of the universe and how many of you have fallen asleep
and how many of you have fallen asleep
and how many of you have fallen asleep while stargazing over time I managed to
while stargazing over time I managed to
while stargazing over time I managed to answer some of the questions that
answer some of the questions that
answer some of the questions that intrigued me back then but I’m still
intrigued me back then but I’m still
intrigued me back then but I’m still working on others this is a bit
working on others this is a bit
working on others this is a bit embarrassing but up until I was four or
embarrassing but up until I was four or
embarrassing but up until I was four or five I was convinced at the sky with the
five I was convinced at the sky with the
five I was convinced at the sky with the Sun during the day and the moon and the
Sun during the day and the moon and the
Sun during the day and the moon and the stars during the night were just theater
stars during the night were just theater
stars during the night were just theater curtains that someone was in charge of
curtains that someone was in charge of
curtains that someone was in charge of changing I was not sad though when I
changing I was not sad though when I
changing I was not sad though when I learned the truth because it opened me
learned the truth because it opened me
learned the truth because it opened me the door to all of possibilities
the door to all of possibilities
the door to all of possibilities according to the oxford dictionary
according to the oxford dictionary
according to the oxford dictionary astronomy is the scientist Sally’s
astronomy is the scientist Sally’s
astronomy is the scientist Sally’s celestial objects the space and the
celestial objects the space and the
celestial objects the space and the universe as a whole is that clear
universe as a whole is that clear
universe as a whole is that clear perhaps not much what do we understand a
perhaps not much what do we understand a
perhaps not much what do we understand a celestial objects the definition can be
celestial objects the definition can be
celestial objects the definition can be used all the way from meteorites which
used all the way from meteorites which
used all the way from meteorites which can be as small as a grain of Sun up to
can be as small as a grain of Sun up to
can be as small as a grain of Sun up to planets or stars or even whole galaxies
planets or stars or even whole galaxies
planets or stars or even whole galaxies so pretty much everything that lies
so pretty much everything that lies
so pretty much everything that lies beyond our atmosphere
beyond our atmosphere
beyond our atmosphere nowadays we the astronomers prefer to be
nowadays we the astronomers prefer to be
nowadays we the astronomers prefer to be called astrophysicists in order to
called astrophysicists in order to
called astrophysicists in order to respect the professional feel of the
respect the professional feel of the
respect the professional feel of the astrologist trust me
astrologist trust me
astrologist trust me I’ve lost count of the number of times
I’ve lost count of the number of times
I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve been asked to read a hand or
that I’ve been asked to read a hand or
that I’ve been asked to read a hand or to do a horoscope
to do a horoscope
to do a horoscope yes we study the Stars no we don’t
yes we study the Stars no we don’t
yes we study the Stars no we don’t predict people’s fortunes and what does
predict people’s fortunes and what does
predict people’s fortunes and what does astronomy have in particular that has
astronomy have in particular that has
astronomy have in particular that has made us wonder for generations questions
made us wonder for generations questions
made us wonder for generations questions about where we come from or whether we
about where we come from or whether we
about where we come from or whether we are alone in the universe have filled
are alone in the universe have filled
are alone in the universe have filled our imaginations for centuries producing
our imaginations for centuries producing
our imaginations for centuries producing cultures rich in myth but that’s not
cultures rich in myth but that’s not
cultures rich in myth but that’s not what Falls mine don’t get me wrong we
what Falls mine don’t get me wrong we
what Falls mine don’t get me wrong we all like a bit of alien debate over a
all like a bit of alien debate over a
all like a bit of alien debate over a veer from time to time but that’s not my
veer from time to time but that’s not my
veer from time to time but that’s not my thing
thing
thing what makes me wonder are the scales or
what makes me wonder are the scales or
what makes me wonder are the scales or the sizes I remember a visit I did to
the sizes I remember a visit I did to
the sizes I remember a visit I did to the Sequoia National Park a couple of
the Sequoia National Park a couple of
the Sequoia National Park a couple of years ago I was walking through the
years ago I was walking through the
years ago I was walking through the forest and I saw the sign that said how
forest and I saw the sign that said how
forest and I saw the sign that said how big is big and I was extending next to
big is big and I was extending next to
big is big and I was extending next to the sign which was already taller than
the sign which was already taller than
the sign which was already taller than me next to one of those immense sequoias
me next to one of those immense sequoias
me next to one of those immense sequoias and it made me feel small and
and it made me feel small and
and it made me feel small and insignificant and I had the same feeling
insignificant and I had the same feeling
insignificant and I had the same feeling in astronomy the time over which
in astronomy the time over which
in astronomy the time over which processes happened the masses of the
processes happened the masses of the
processes happened the masses of the objects and the distances between them
objects and the distances between them
objects and the distances between them there are all in normal skills and
there are all in normal skills and
there are all in normal skills and they’re almost impossible to imagine I
they’re almost impossible to imagine I
they’re almost impossible to imagine I know you’ve heard comparisons to
know you’ve heard comparisons to
know you’ve heard comparisons to thousands of millions of stadiums but I
thousands of millions of stadiums but I
thousands of millions of stadiums but I know that doing those comparisons with
know that doing those comparisons with
know that doing those comparisons with everyday objects does not help to better
everyday objects does not help to better
everyday objects does not help to better understand the concepts so the question
understand the concepts so the question
understand the concepts so the question is how big is weak even in astronomy
is how big is weak even in astronomy
is how big is weak even in astronomy that is a tough question what we call a
that is a tough question what we call a
that is a tough question what we call a small and large will depend on our fill
small and large will depend on our fill
small and large will depend on our fill of a study if you are someone that is
of a study if you are someone that is
of a study if you are someone that is working with planets they will tell you
working with planets they will tell you
working with planets they will tell you that a star is quite large but if you
that a star is quite large but if you
that a star is quite large but if you are someone that is working with the
are someone that is working with the
are someone that is working with the structure of the universe they will tell
structure of the universe they will tell
structure of the universe they will tell you the rest are is like me next to the
you the rest are is like me next to the
you the rest are is like me next to the Sequoia just insignificant but it is not
Sequoia just insignificant but it is not
Sequoia just insignificant but it is not all about the size or so they say
all about the size or so they say
all about the size or so they say what really makes me wonder is the
what really makes me wonder is the
what really makes me wonder is the interplay between those scales how the
interplay between those scales how the
interplay between those scales how the large scales determine what the small
large scales determine what the small
large scales determine what the small ones can do how the small scale
ones can do how the small scale
ones can do how the small scale processes work together to shape the big
processes work together to shape the big
processes work together to shape the big picture here is an image of the
picture here is an image of the
picture here is an image of the Andromeda galaxy also known as an 31
Andromeda galaxy also known as an 31
Andromeda galaxy also known as an 31 among the galaxies that surround us this
among the galaxies that surround us this
among the galaxies that surround us this is a brightest one to the extent that it
is a brightest one to the extent that it
is a brightest one to the extent that it can be seen with a clear with your naked
can be seen with a clear with your naked
can be seen with a clear with your naked eye on a clear night do you see it’s
eye on a clear night do you see it’s
eye on a clear night do you see it’s this cloud shape by developing an
this cloud shape by developing an
this cloud shape by developing an observational II testing theories of
observational II testing theories of
observational II testing theories of galaxy formation we have learned that
galaxy formation we have learned that
galaxy formation we have learned that galaxies form from the contraction of a
galaxies form from the contraction of a
galaxies form from the contraction of a big halo of gas and the only reason why
big halo of gas and the only reason why
big halo of gas and the only reason why this gas can collapse is because it can
this gas can collapse is because it can
this gas can collapse is because it can lose energy thanks to the interactions
lose energy thanks to the interactions
lose energy thanks to the interactions among the atomic on the atomic level so
among the atomic on the atomic level so
among the atomic on the atomic level so it is those interactions among the atoms
it is those interactions among the atoms
it is those interactions among the atoms that compose the gas where allows the
that compose the gas where allows the
that compose the gas where allows the gas to collapse and settle into the disk
gas to collapse and settle into the disk
gas to collapse and settle into the disk of the galaxy this constant interplay of
of the galaxy this constant interplay of
of the galaxy this constant interplay of scales might seem difficult to
scales might seem difficult to
scales might seem difficult to understand at first but we have a tool
understand at first but we have a tool
understand at first but we have a tool to shed light on it and it’s called the
to shed light on it and it’s called the
to shed light on it and it’s called the scientific method this method allows us
scientific method this method allows us
scientific method this method allows us to learn from nature with just five
to learn from nature with just five
to learn from nature with just five steps first one formulation of a
steps first one formulation of a
steps first one formulation of a question we observe a phenomena in
question we observe a phenomena in
question we observe a phenomena in nature
nature
nature that we want to learn about and so we
that we want to learn about and so we
that we want to learn about and so we formulate a simple question about it
formulate a simple question about it
formulate a simple question about it second hypothesis from what we already
second hypothesis from what we already
second hypothesis from what we already know we can touch her what the answer
know we can touch her what the answer
know we can touch her what the answer can be third prediction this one is
can be third prediction this one is
can be third prediction this one is especially relevant scientific models
especially relevant scientific models
especially relevant scientific models and theories not only are capable of
and theories not only are capable of
and theories not only are capable of describing nature but they’re also
describing nature but they’re also
describing nature but they’re also capable of predicting events for the
capable of predicting events for the
capable of predicting events for the testing this is the most well known
testing this is the most well known
testing this is the most well known because here is where the actual
because here is where the actual
because here is where the actual experiments are being performed and five
experiments are being performed and five
experiments are being performed and five analysis with this we can evaluate
analysis with this we can evaluate
analysis with this we can evaluate whether our hypothesis is correct or not
whether our hypothesis is correct or not
whether our hypothesis is correct or not different Sciences may refer on the way
different Sciences may refer on the way
different Sciences may refer on the way they do the testing a step but they are
they do the testing a step but they are
they do the testing a step but they are all use the scientific method to bill
all use the scientific method to bill
all use the scientific method to bill knowledge
knowledge
knowledge for example if you ask biologists how do
for example if you ask biologists how do
for example if you ask biologists how do they face research that will tell you
they face research that will tell you
they face research that will tell you how the most important thing is to be
how the most important thing is to be
how the most important thing is to be able to control all the variables that
able to control all the variables that
able to control all the variables that may play a role in whatever it is that
may play a role in whatever it is that
may play a role in whatever it is that you want to study and then they will
you want to study and then they will
you want to study and then they will start talking about also experiments
start talking about also experiments
start talking about also experiments that can be done in which they can
that can be done in which they can
that can be done in which they can replicate over and over the exact same
replicate over and over the exact same
replicate over and over the exact same conditions in order to investigate what
conditions in order to investigate what
conditions in order to investigate what are the most relevant variables in
are the most relevant variables in
are the most relevant variables in astronomy we cannot do that imagine you
astronomy we cannot do that imagine you
astronomy we cannot do that imagine you want to study how a galaxy like
want to study how a galaxy like
want to study how a galaxy like Andromeda here forms what can we do in
Andromeda here forms what can we do in
Andromeda here forms what can we do in the same way that paleontologists can
the same way that paleontologists can
the same way that paleontologists can reconstruct the evolutionary trajectory
reconstruct the evolutionary trajectory
reconstruct the evolutionary trajectory of a given species using only fossils
of a given species using only fossils
of a given species using only fossils which are fragments of that history we
which are fragments of that history we
which are fragments of that history we must construct the formation history of
must construct the formation history of
must construct the formation history of OVA galaxies using only examples similar
OVA galaxies using only examples similar
OVA galaxies using only examples similar to that galaxy and sometimes actual
to that galaxy and sometimes actual
to that galaxy and sometimes actual glimpses into the past with that we can
glimpses into the past with that we can
glimpses into the past with that we can put forward theories to try to explain
put forward theories to try to explain
put forward theories to try to explain these processes and then we try to prove
these processes and then we try to prove
these processes and then we try to prove those theories wrong once we’ve proven
those theories wrong once we’ve proven
those theories wrong once we’ve proven them wrong because that will happen you
them wrong because that will happen you
them wrong because that will happen you have to test the theory and try again
have to test the theory and try again
have to test the theory and try again these theories are never set in stone
these theories are never set in stone
these theories are never set in stone but they are constantly developing to
but they are constantly developing to
but they are constantly developing to better describe what we observe there’s
better describe what we observe there’s
better describe what we observe there’s another solution and that is to put all
another solution and that is to put all
another solution and that is to put all our knowledge into a computer to create
our knowledge into a computer to create
our knowledge into a computer to create a beautiful galaxy in a simulation to
a beautiful galaxy in a simulation to
a beautiful galaxy in a simulation to actually replicate how the birth of that
actually replicate how the birth of that
actually replicate how the birth of that galaxy has been numerical simulations
galaxy has been numerical simulations
galaxy has been numerical simulations are very important in astronomy because
are very important in astronomy because
are very important in astronomy because they allows us to change the properties
they allows us to change the properties
they allows us to change the properties of the universe and so to build a bridge
of the universe and so to build a bridge
of the universe and so to build a bridge between observations and the models like
between observations and the models like
between observations and the models like in the real universe our simulated
in the real universe our simulated
in the real universe our simulated galaxies are made of particles but
galaxies are made of particles but
galaxies are made of particles but because we do not have the computational
because we do not have the computational
because we do not have the computational power available to treat each star in
power available to treat each star in
power available to treat each star in your galaxy individually what we call
your galaxy individually what we call
your galaxy individually what we call particles actually correspond to chunks
particles actually correspond to chunks
particles actually correspond to chunks of mass that can correspond up to
of mass that can correspond up to
of mass that can correspond up to several millions of stars like the Sun
several millions of stars like the Sun
several millions of stars like the Sun there is not what one things by the word
there is not what one things by the word
there is not what one things by the word particle right
particle right
particle right to design these big numerical
to design these big numerical
to design these big numerical simulations we first need to think how
simulations we first need to think how
simulations we first need to think how different physical processes will affect
different physical processes will affect
different physical processes will affect one of our particles and then we grow a
one of our particles and then we grow a
one of our particles and then we grow a code in which we simulate all those
code in which we simulate all those
code in which we simulate all those different physical processes for several
different physical processes for several
different physical processes for several millions of particles once we’ve run the
millions of particles once we’ve run the
millions of particles once we’ve run the simulation we can compare the results
simulation we can compare the results
simulation we can compare the results with the observations to see whether the
with the observations to see whether the
with the observations to see whether the physical ingredients that we have
physical ingredients that we have
physical ingredients that we have implemented in our simulation correctly
implemented in our simulation correctly
implemented in our simulation correctly describe the observed properties of the
describe the observed properties of the
describe the observed properties of the galaxies or not designing one of these
galaxies or not designing one of these
galaxies or not designing one of these big numerical simulations is not a
big numerical simulations is not a
big numerical simulations is not a trivial problem because there’s many
trivial problem because there’s many
trivial problem because there’s many many physical mechanisms and need to be
many physical mechanisms and need to be
many physical mechanisms and need to be accounted for another very important
accounted for another very important
accounted for another very important issue is the number of particles that we
issue is the number of particles that we
issue is the number of particles that we use to describe these galaxies the
use to describe these galaxies the
use to describe these galaxies the smaller the number of particles the
smaller the number of particles the
smaller the number of particles the faster we can run our simulation but the
faster we can run our simulation but the
faster we can run our simulation but the less information we’re going to obtain
less information we’re going to obtain
less information we’re going to obtain out of it so we have to constantly
out of it so we have to constantly
out of it so we have to constantly trade-off between computational speed
trade-off between computational speed
trade-off between computational speed and precision I am a PhD student at the
and precision I am a PhD student at the
and precision I am a PhD student at the University of Heidelberg and I’m not
University of Heidelberg and I’m not
University of Heidelberg and I’m not interested interested as much in these
interested interested as much in these
interested interested as much in these objects but actually in these dollars
objects but actually in these dollars
objects but actually in these dollars which are called stellar clusters a
which are called stellar clusters a
which are called stellar clusters a stellar cluster is a group of stars that
stellar cluster is a group of stars that
stellar cluster is a group of stars that has formed at the same time in the same
has formed at the same time in the same
has formed at the same time in the same place of the galaxy and there is held
place of the galaxy and there is held
place of the galaxy and there is held together by the gravitational
together by the gravitational
together by the gravitational interaction among each other here is
interaction among each other here is
interaction among each other here is another image of the Andromeda galaxy do
another image of the Andromeda galaxy do
another image of the Andromeda galaxy do you see that in the bottom right corner
you see that in the bottom right corner
you see that in the bottom right corner there is a blue circle that circle
there is a blue circle that circle
there is a blue circle that circle corresponds to its brightest a stellar
corresponds to its brightest a stellar
corresponds to its brightest a stellar cluster in that galaxy and you can see
cluster in that galaxy and you can see
cluster in that galaxy and you can see that there’s quite a difference between
that there’s quite a difference between
that there’s quite a difference between a stellar cluster and a galaxy my field
a stellar cluster and a galaxy my field
a stellar cluster and a galaxy my field has developed mainly from observations
has developed mainly from observations
has developed mainly from observations and over the years people have found
and over the years people have found
and over the years people have found many different types of a stellar
many different types of a stellar
many different types of a stellar clusters being the two most well-known
clusters being the two most well-known
clusters being the two most well-known these two which are called
these two which are called
these two which are called open clusters or globular clusters the
open clusters or globular clusters the
open clusters or globular clusters the first time they’re heard about these
first time they’re heard about these
first time they’re heard about these objects I was on my second year of uni
objects I was on my second year of uni
objects I was on my second year of uni back in Barcelona and the finger I most
back in Barcelona and the finger I most
back in Barcelona and the finger I most clearly remember about that lecture is
clearly remember about that lecture is
clearly remember about that lecture is how much they emphasized on the
how much they emphasized on the
how much they emphasized on the differences between them open clusters
differences between them open clusters
differences between them open clusters are young the
are young the
are young the have very few stars and some diffuse gas
have very few stars and some diffuse gas
have very few stars and some diffuse gas whereas chloral clusters are old they
whereas chloral clusters are old they
whereas chloral clusters are old they have up to several thousands of a stars
have up to several thousands of a stars
have up to several thousands of a stars and they have no guys at all
and they have no guys at all
and they have no guys at all so the question is how did these objects
so the question is how did these objects
so the question is how did these objects form here there’s a bit of debate as
form here there’s a bit of debate as
form here there’s a bit of debate as usual seeing how different the
usual seeing how different the
usual seeing how different the properties are some people suggest that
properties are some people suggest that
properties are some people suggest that these objects form following two
these objects form following two
these objects form following two complete different physical processes
complete different physical processes
complete different physical processes and that you cannot compare them in any
and that you cannot compare them in any
and that you cannot compare them in any way on the other hand there are some
way on the other hand there are some
way on the other hand there are some other people who suggest that these
other people who suggest that these
other people who suggest that these objects form following the same physical
objects form following the same physical
objects form following the same physical process but because these objects are
process but because these objects are
process but because these objects are orbiting in the galaxies and so they’re
orbiting in the galaxies and so they’re
orbiting in the galaxies and so they’re evolving inside of that galaxy what
evolving inside of that galaxy what
evolving inside of that galaxy what happens throughout the life will modify
happens throughout the life will modify
happens throughout the life will modify their aspect and so will change how we
their aspect and so will change how we
their aspect and so will change how we see them nowadays I’m working with that
see them nowadays I’m working with that
see them nowadays I’m working with that second hypothesis and it is not a
second hypothesis and it is not a
second hypothesis and it is not a trivial problem because we have to work
trivial problem because we have to work
trivial problem because we have to work from the largest scales of how does the
from the largest scales of how does the
from the largest scales of how does the galaxies form and evolve through cosmic
galaxies form and evolve through cosmic
galaxies form and evolve through cosmic time down to the smaller scales of how
time down to the smaller scales of how
time down to the smaller scales of how the the clusters form from the gas
the the clusters form from the gas
the the clusters form from the gas sitting in the galaxies and how they
sitting in the galaxies and how they
sitting in the galaxies and how they evolve inside of that galaxy and how
evolve inside of that galaxy and how
evolve inside of that galaxy and how they keep interacting with that gas
they keep interacting with that gas
they keep interacting with that gas throughout their lifetimes in order to
throughout their lifetimes in order to
throughout their lifetimes in order to work with certain interplay of scales I
work with certain interplay of scales I
work with certain interplay of scales I have to use numerical simulations which
have to use numerical simulations which
have to use numerical simulations which allow me to replicate how galaxies and
allow me to replicate how galaxies and
allow me to replicate how galaxies and clusters form evolve and interact
clusters form evolve and interact
clusters form evolve and interact through our LED throughout their
through our LED throughout their
through our LED throughout their lifetimes
lifetimes
lifetimes I will end up comparing my simulations
I will end up comparing my simulations
I will end up comparing my simulations with observations those are which will
with observations those are which will
with observations those are which will allow me to evaluate our hypothesis on
allow me to evaluate our hypothesis on
allow me to evaluate our hypothesis on the stellar cluster formation thus
the stellar cluster formation thus
the stellar cluster formation thus fulfilling the last step of the
fulfilling the last step of the
fulfilling the last step of the scientific method the complexity of
scientific method the complexity of
scientific method the complexity of interplays of scales may obscure the way
interplays of scales may obscure the way
interplays of scales may obscure the way to the truth behind it but armed with a
to the truth behind it but armed with a
to the truth behind it but armed with a scientific method and some Efrain
scientific method and some Efrain
scientific method and some Efrain dedication I know I can light my way out
dedication I know I can light my way out
dedication I know I can light my way out from the darkness thank you
”
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