well thank you so much my name is Cynthia Chang and I guess all the other
Cynthia Chang and I guess all the other
Cynthia Chang and I guess all the other speakers were asked to talk about
speakers were asked to talk about
speakers were asked to talk about immigration and I am the oddball
immigration and I am the oddball
immigration and I am the oddball out so I promise I did not miss the memo
out so I promise I did not miss the memo
out so I promise I did not miss the memo but they did but they did ask me
but they did but they did ask me
but they did but they did ask me specifically to talk about astrophysics
specifically to talk about astrophysics
specifically to talk about astrophysics and so I’m going to tell you a story
and so I’m going to tell you a story
and so I’m going to tell you a story tonight but it’s going to be very
tonight but it’s going to be very
tonight but it’s going to be very different from the other stories you’ve
different from the other stories you’ve
different from the other stories you’ve heard and mine’s going to be about
heard and mine’s going to be about
heard and mine’s going to be about adventure and it’s an adventure that we
adventure and it’s an adventure that we
adventure and it’s an adventure that we went on in order to learn about what
went on in order to learn about what
went on in order to learn about what happened in the universe in its distant
happened in the universe in its distant
happened in the universe in its distant past and so this is our adventure story
past and so this is our adventure story
past and so this is our adventure story so the study of the universe as a whole
so the study of the universe as a whole
so the study of the universe as a whole is known as cosmology and cosmologists
is known as cosmology and cosmologists
is known as cosmology and cosmologists in general are interested in
in general are interested in
in general are interested in understanding the big picture so that is
understanding the big picture so that is
understanding the big picture so that is the history and the evolution and the
the history and the evolution and the
the history and the evolution and the structure of the universe on its largest
structure of the universe on its largest
structure of the universe on its largest scales so the sorts of questions that we
scales so the sorts of questions that we
scales so the sorts of questions that we like to think about include how and when
like to think about include how and when
like to think about include how and when did the universe begin what is the fate
did the universe begin what is the fate
did the universe begin what is the fate of the universe and what is the universe
of the universe and what is the universe
of the universe and what is the universe made of things like that and of course
made of things like that and of course
made of things like that and of course these questions of humankind has thought
these questions of humankind has thought
these questions of humankind has thought about these questions for as long as
about these questions for as long as
about these questions for as long as we’ve existed and to illustrate how old
we’ve existed and to illustrate how old
we’ve existed and to illustrate how old and profound these questions are I’m
and profound these questions are I’m
and profound these questions are I’m showing an illustration from the 1800s
showing an illustration from the 1800s
showing an illustration from the 1800s which shows a curious observer and he’s
which shows a curious observer and he’s
which shows a curious observer and he’s peering into the heavens and trying to
peering into the heavens and trying to
peering into the heavens and trying to understand what lies beyond now of
understand what lies beyond now of
understand what lies beyond now of course there’s a lot of artistic license
course there’s a lot of artistic license
course there’s a lot of artistic license in this picture but actually the spirit
in this picture but actually the spirit
in this picture but actually the spirit of this picture is very similar to what
of this picture is very similar to what
of this picture is very similar to what we do today and present modern day Calm
we do today and present modern day Calm
we do today and present modern day Calm ology but thanks to the advent of
ology but thanks to the advent of
ology but thanks to the advent of specialized telescopes that we’ve been
specialized telescopes that we’ve been
specialized telescopes that we’ve been able to build and precision observations
able to build and precision observations
able to build and precision observations we can actually begin to address these
we can actually begin to address these
we can actually begin to address these grand questions in a precise scientific
grand questions in a precise scientific
grand questions in a precise scientific and qualitative quantitative manner so
and qualitative quantitative manner so
and qualitative quantitative manner so if we fast forward from the 1800s to the
if we fast forward from the 1800s to the
if we fast forward from the 1800s to the present day this is a picture that shows
present day this is a picture that shows
present day this is a picture that shows a timeline or a map of the universe as
a timeline or a map of the universe as
a timeline or a map of the universe as we understand it today so we believe
we understand it today so we believe
we understand it today so we believe that the universe began its existence 14
that the universe began its existence 14
that the universe began its existence 14 billion years ago in a lap and a large
billion years ago in a lap and a large
billion years ago in a lap and a large explosion called the Big Bang and since
explosion called the Big Bang and since
explosion called the Big Bang and since then the universe has been expanding and
then the universe has been expanding and
then the universe has been expanding and cooling off now as the universe has
cooling off now as the universe has
cooling off now as the universe has evolved there’s been a few significant
evolved there’s been a few significant
evolved there’s been a few significant milestones and it’s history that I’ve
milestones and it’s history that I’ve
milestones and it’s history that I’ve outlined here in the picture
outlined here in the picture
outlined here in the picture so starting at week four million years
so starting at week four million years
so starting at week four million years after the Big Bang the universe became
after the Big Bang the universe became
after the Big Bang the universe became cool enough for the first hydrogen atoms
cool enough for the first hydrogen atoms
cool enough for the first hydrogen atoms to form now at this point the oldest
to form now at this point the oldest
to form now at this point the oldest light that we can observe in the
light that we can observe in the
light that we can observe in the universe which is known as the Cosmic
universe which is known as the Cosmic
universe which is known as the Cosmic Microwave Background was released now
Microwave Background was released now
Microwave Background was released now after this point the universe was just
after this point the universe was just
after this point the universe was just filled with neutral hydrogen and it was
filled with neutral hydrogen and it was
filled with neutral hydrogen and it was a very dark and boring place for a very
a very dark and boring place for a very
a very dark and boring place for a very long time and the cosmic Dark Ages
long time and the cosmic Dark Ages
long time and the cosmic Dark Ages lasted until about a hundred million
lasted until about a hundred million
lasted until about a hundred million years after the Big Bang and at that
years after the Big Bang and at that
years after the Big Bang and at that point the first stars ignited in the
point the first stars ignited in the
point the first stars ignited in the universe and Dawn appeared in the cosmos
universe and Dawn appeared in the cosmos
universe and Dawn appeared in the cosmos and after that the universe continued to
and after that the universe continued to
and after that the universe continued to evolve more structures appeared
evolve more structures appeared
evolve more structures appeared including the stars and galaxies that
including the stars and galaxies that
including the stars and galaxies that are familiar to us today and we as
are familiar to us today and we as
are familiar to us today and we as observers sit at the very center of this
observers sit at the very center of this
observers sit at the very center of this picture looking out and we’re trying to
picture looking out and we’re trying to
picture looking out and we’re trying to fill in the details of this strange and
fill in the details of this strange and
fill in the details of this strange and wonderful picture so for tonight’s story
wonderful picture so for tonight’s story
wonderful picture so for tonight’s story I’m going to focus on one particular
I’m going to focus on one particular
I’m going to focus on one particular slice of the universe’s history and that
slice of the universe’s history and that
slice of the universe’s history and that is this period known as cosmic dawn so
is this period known as cosmic dawn so
is this period known as cosmic dawn so during this period the first stars
during this period the first stars
during this period the first stars ignited in the universe and we as
ignited in the universe and we as
ignited in the universe and we as cosmologists would like to understand in
cosmologists would like to understand in
cosmologists would like to understand in greater detail what the universe looked
greater detail what the universe looked
greater detail what the universe looked like during this part of its development
like during this part of its development
like during this part of its development so we only believed that cosmic dawn
so we only believed that cosmic dawn
so we only believed that cosmic dawn took place between 100 and 400 million
took place between 100 and 400 million
took place between 100 and 400 million years after the Big Bang and that may
years after the Big Bang and that may
years after the Big Bang and that may sound like a large set of numbers to you
sound like a large set of numbers to you
sound like a large set of numbers to you but I want you to think about let’s take
but I want you to think about let’s take
but I want you to think about let’s take the whole 14 billion year existence of
the whole 14 billion year existence of
the whole 14 billion year existence of the universe and compress it down into a
the universe and compress it down into a
the universe and compress it down into a human’s lifespan now if we were to do
human’s lifespan now if we were to do
human’s lifespan now if we were to do that then the period of cosmic dawn
that then the period of cosmic dawn
that then the period of cosmic dawn would actually correspond to the first
would actually correspond to the first
would actually correspond to the first few years of a human’s lifespan and so
few years of a human’s lifespan and so
few years of a human’s lifespan and so in other words if we take our telescopes
in other words if we take our telescopes
in other words if we take our telescopes and look back at cosmic dawn we’re
and look back at cosmic dawn we’re
and look back at cosmic dawn we’re essentially trying to study the universe
essentially trying to study the universe
essentially trying to study the universe when she was a toddler that she looked
when she was a toddler that she looked
when she was a toddler that she looked very different back then
very different back then
very different back then so this that’s sort of the science that
so this that’s sort of the science that
so this that’s sort of the science that we’d like to do and what we’re
we’d like to do and what we’re
we’d like to do and what we’re interested in studying so know that I’ve
interested in studying so know that I’ve
interested in studying so know that I’ve told you what kind of science I’d like
told you what kind of science I’d like
told you what kind of science I’d like to do I’ll have to tell you how we’re
to do I’ll have to tell you how we’re
to do I’ll have to tell you how we’re going to do it and what we’re going to
going to do it and what we’re going to
going to do it and what we’re going to look for so luckily for observational
look for so luckily for observational
look for so luckily for observational cosmologists are our tool of choice for
cosmologists are our tool of choice for
cosmologists are our tool of choice for understanding the universe is light we
understanding the universe is light we
understanding the universe is light we have telescopes and we look at light of
have telescopes and we look at light of
have telescopes and we look at light of various sorts and thankfully during the
various sorts and thankfully during the
various sorts and thankfully during the period of cosmic dawn the universe was
period of cosmic dawn the universe was
period of cosmic dawn the universe was filled with neutral hydrogen and
filled with neutral hydrogen and
filled with neutral hydrogen and hydrogen
hydrogen
hydrogen has a very special property and that it
has a very special property and that it
has a very special property and that it glows with a very specific kind of light
glows with a very specific kind of light
glows with a very specific kind of light so it turns out that hydrogen atoms emit
so it turns out that hydrogen atoms emit
so it turns out that hydrogen atoms emit radiofrequency light and if we can tune
radiofrequency light and if we can tune
radiofrequency light and if we can tune in our telescopes to observe at
in our telescopes to observe at
in our telescopes to observe at frequencies between 50 and 150 megahertz
frequencies between 50 and 150 megahertz
frequencies between 50 and 150 megahertz we can literally listen into the period
we can literally listen into the period
we can literally listen into the period of the first stars igniting in the
of the first stars igniting in the
of the first stars igniting in the universe so that’s the game plan and so
universe so that’s the game plan and so
universe so that’s the game plan and so now you might be wondering how are we
now you might be wondering how are we
now you might be wondering how are we actually going to do this in practice so
actually going to do this in practice so
actually going to do this in practice so how do you catch a radio wave well
how do you catch a radio wave well
how do you catch a radio wave well there’s good and bad news here so the
there’s good and bad news here so the
there’s good and bad news here so the good news is that you may have
good news is that you may have
good news is that you may have recognized the megahertz numbers that I
recognized the megahertz numbers that I
recognized the megahertz numbers that I mentioned in the previous slide because
mentioned in the previous slide because
mentioned in the previous slide because FM radio stations all broadcast in this
FM radio stations all broadcast in this
FM radio stations all broadcast in this range and so that’s great because if you
range and so that’s great because if you
range and so that’s great because if you wanted to measure a radio wave at 100
wanted to measure a radio wave at 100
wanted to measure a radio wave at 100 megahertz all you do is go to your car
megahertz all you do is go to your car
megahertz all you do is go to your car stereo and turn it on and you’re set to
stereo and turn it on and you’re set to
stereo and turn it on and you’re set to go right but with all things that sound
go right but with all things that sound
go right but with all things that sound that easy there’s always a catch and the
that easy there’s always a catch and the
that easy there’s always a catch and the catch here is that if you tried to build
catch here is that if you tried to build
catch here is that if you tried to build a cosmic dawn telescope and put it at
a cosmic dawn telescope and put it at
a cosmic dawn telescope and put it at home all you would pick up is your
home all you would pick up is your
home all you would pick up is your favorite radio stations all the popular
favorite radio stations all the popular
favorite radio stations all the popular music and all of that would drown out
music and all of that would drown out
music and all of that would drown out all of the cosmological signal that
all of the cosmological signal that
all of the cosmological signal that you’re trying to pick up from this guy
you’re trying to pick up from this guy
you’re trying to pick up from this guy so you would never be able to see the
so you would never be able to see the
so you would never be able to see the signal that you’re looking for so that’s
signal that you’re looking for so that’s
signal that you’re looking for so that’s very sad so then you might be wondering
very sad so then you might be wondering
very sad so then you might be wondering well what is it cosmologists to do given
well what is it cosmologists to do given
well what is it cosmologists to do given this dilemma and so the solution in this
this dilemma and so the solution in this
this dilemma and so the solution in this case is to leave civilization behind so
case is to leave civilization behind so
case is to leave civilization behind so we want to get as far away as possible
we want to get as far away as possible
we want to get as far away as possible from the radio stations and find a very
from the radio stations and find a very
from the radio stations and find a very quiet place so that we can see the sky
quiet place so that we can see the sky
quiet place so that we can see the sky and none of the contamination that we
and none of the contamination that we
and none of the contamination that we create and so this is where our
create and so this is where our
create and so this is where our adventure begins so it turns out that
adventure begins so it turns out that
adventure begins so it turns out that South Africa owns a research base on
South Africa owns a research base on
South Africa owns a research base on Marian Island which is shown in the
Marian Island which is shown in the
Marian Island which is shown in the upper
upper
upper right hand picture over here and you can
right hand picture over here and you can
right hand picture over here and you can see that it is quite literally in the
see that it is quite literally in the
see that it is quite literally in the middle of nowhere it is two thousand
middle of nowhere it is two thousand
middle of nowhere it is two thousand kilometers away from the mainland and I
kilometers away from the mainland and I
kilometers away from the mainland and I can tell you you don’t pick up any radio
can tell you you don’t pick up any radio
can tell you you don’t pick up any radio stations from there so the story I’m
stations from there so the story I’m
stations from there so the story I’m gonna tell tonight is about our research
gonna tell tonight is about our research
gonna tell tonight is about our research team at UK’s a10 we went on a voyage to
team at UK’s a10 we went on a voyage to
team at UK’s a10 we went on a voyage to Marion Island this past April and we set
Marion Island this past April and we set
Marion Island this past April and we set up a new radio telescope in order to try
up a new radio telescope in order to try
up a new radio telescope in order to try searching for the signature from the
searching for the signature from the
searching for the signature from the first stars igniting in the universe so
first stars igniting in the universe so
first stars igniting in the universe so I’m going to start off by showing the
I’m going to start off by showing the
I’m going to start off by showing the final telescope that we set up our
final telescope that we set up our
final telescope that we set up our experiment is called prism which stands
experiment is called prism which stands
experiment is called prism which stands for probing radio intensity at high Z
for probing radio intensity at high Z
for probing radio intensity at high Z from Marion and this is the instrument
from Marion and this is the instrument
from Marion and this is the instrument and it’s full glory
and it’s full glory
and it’s full glory I’m excited to share with you tonight
I’m excited to share with you tonight
I’m excited to share with you tonight that this is actually the first
that this is actually the first
that this is actually the first astronomy of any sort that’s been done
astronomy of any sort that’s been done
astronomy of any sort that’s been done from Marion Island and so we really are
from Marion Island and so we really are
from Marion Island and so we really are exploring uncharted territory here which
exploring uncharted territory here which
exploring uncharted territory here which is quite exciting so now in science the
is quite exciting so now in science the
is quite exciting so now in science the story isn’t just about the theory and
story isn’t just about the theory and
story isn’t just about the theory and the technology but it’s also very much
the technology but it’s also very much
the technology but it’s also very much about the people and there is a
about the people and there is a
about the people and there is a significant human element to this and so
significant human element to this and so
significant human element to this and so I wanted to share a picture of our
I wanted to share a picture of our
I wanted to share a picture of our students who were the members of the
students who were the members of the
students who were the members of the deploying team to Marion this past April
deploying team to Marion this past April
deploying team to Marion this past April now the instrument that you saw on the
now the instrument that you saw on the
now the instrument that you saw on the previous slide was designed built from
previous slide was designed built from
previous slide was designed built from scratch and filled an entirely by
scratch and filled an entirely by
scratch and filled an entirely by students and so they get all the credit
students and so they get all the credit
students and so they get all the credit for making this work and not only that
for making this work and not only that
for making this work and not only that but they they spent three weeks on
but they they spent three weeks on
but they they spent three weeks on Marion and it’s three weeks is a very
Marion and it’s three weeks is a very
Marion and it’s three weeks is a very short period and so they had only that
short period and so they had only that
short period and so they had only that amount of time to set up a fully
amount of time to set up a fully
amount of time to set up a fully functional robust system that could be
functional robust system that could be
functional robust system that could be left behind for a full winter and during
left behind for a full winter and during
left behind for a full winter and during that three week period every day they
that three week period every day they
that three week period every day they spent two hours hiking through cold
spent two hours hiking through cold
spent two hours hiking through cold weather Meyers lava fields ice pellets
weather Meyers lava fields ice pellets
weather Meyers lava fields ice pellets you name it to get to our site work on
you name it to get to our site work on
you name it to get to our site work on the equipment and hike back but it is
the equipment and hike back but it is
the equipment and hike back but it is all worth it for the love of science and
all worth it for the love of science and
all worth it for the love of science and but it is thing to their hard work that
but it is thing to their hard work that
but it is thing to their hard work that I’m able to stand here today and share
I’m able to stand here today and share
I’m able to stand here today and share this story with you all right
this story with you all right
this story with you all right so fielding a telescope to a remote
so fielding a telescope to a remote
so fielding a telescope to a remote location is a pretty scary experience
location is a pretty scary experience
location is a pretty scary experience and so I’m going to share some photos
and so I’m going to share some photos
and so I’m going to share some photos just to illustrate some of the
just to illustrate some of the
just to illustrate some of the challenges that we faced and so this
challenges that we faced and so this
challenges that we faced and so this photo shows our cargo being delivered to
photo shows our cargo being delivered to
photo shows our cargo being delivered to our site which is located four
our site which is located four
our site which is located four kilometers away from the main base there
kilometers away from the main base there
kilometers away from the main base there are no cars
are no cars
are no cars on the island and so yes we walk those
on the island and so yes we walk those
on the island and so yes we walk those four kilometers every day in order to
four kilometers every day in order to
four kilometers every day in order to deal with our instrument and what you
deal with our instrument and what you
deal with our instrument and what you see are these three tiny orange boxes
see are these three tiny orange boxes
see are these three tiny orange boxes and those contain all the pieces of
and those contain all the pieces of
and those contain all the pieces of hardware that we need to construct our
hardware that we need to construct our
hardware that we need to construct our radio telescope and leave it fully
radio telescope and leave it fully
radio telescope and leave it fully functioning for a year and so well this
functioning for a year and so well this
functioning for a year and so well this picture doesn’t capture is just how
picture doesn’t capture is just how
picture doesn’t capture is just how nerve-wracking it is to tell the
nerve-wracking it is to tell the
nerve-wracking it is to tell the helicopter team like yes we are okay to
helicopter team like yes we are okay to
helicopter team like yes we are okay to go you can dump us off in the middle of
go you can dump us off in the middle of
go you can dump us off in the middle of nowhere and so the best way the best the
nowhere and so the best way the best the
nowhere and so the best way the best the best of absolute capsulation of the
best of absolute capsulation of the
best of absolute capsulation of the feeling that I could come up with for
feeling that I could come up with for
feeling that I could come up with for these lyrics from YouTube which is the
these lyrics from YouTube which is the
these lyrics from YouTube which is the only baggage you can bring us all that
only baggage you can bring us all that
only baggage you can bring us all that you can’t leave behind it really is a
you can’t leave behind it really is a
you can’t leave behind it really is a little bit nerve-wracking but it’s okay
little bit nerve-wracking but it’s okay
little bit nerve-wracking but it’s okay and so we started unpacking our
and so we started unpacking our
and so we started unpacking our containers and everybody got to work and
containers and everybody got to work and
containers and everybody got to work and this is one of our team members
this is one of our team members
this is one of our team members assembling the telescope structure and
assembling the telescope structure and
assembling the telescope structure and thanks to a lot of careful preparation
thanks to a lot of careful preparation
thanks to a lot of careful preparation and hard work we were actually able to
and hard work we were actually able to
and hard work we were actually able to get everything set up within a few days
get everything set up within a few days
get everything set up within a few days and remarkably it all worked the first
and remarkably it all worked the first
and remarkably it all worked the first time that we tried it which was kind of
time that we tried it which was kind of
time that we tried it which was kind of a miracle grateful for that well what is
a miracle grateful for that well what is
a miracle grateful for that well what is even more remarkable is that when we
even more remarkable is that when we
even more remarkable is that when we looked at the observations that our that
looked at the observations that our that
looked at the observations that our that our antennas took we could find no
our antennas took we could find no
our antennas took we could find no evidence of contamination of radio radio
evidence of contamination of radio radio
evidence of contamination of radio radio interference that’s created by humans so
interference that’s created by humans so
interference that’s created by humans so no radio stations of any sort all we saw
no radio stations of any sort all we saw
no radio stations of any sort all we saw was clean sky now as far as we can tell
was clean sky now as far as we can tell
was clean sky now as far as we can tell Marion Island is probably the most radio
Marion Island is probably the most radio
Marion Island is probably the most radio quiet location that we have ever
quiet location that we have ever
quiet location that we have ever observed from and now we have a new
observed from and now we have a new
observed from and now we have a new instrument in place that’s taking
instrument in place that’s taking
instrument in place that’s taking observations and we really hope that
observations and we really hope that
observations and we really hope that we’ll have a clean shot of seeing this
we’ll have a clean shot of seeing this
we’ll have a clean shot of seeing this signature from the first stars igniting
signature from the first stars igniting
signature from the first stars igniting in the universe so that’s where my story
in the universe so that’s where my story
in the universe so that’s where my story for this evening ends but it’s actually
for this evening ends but it’s actually
for this evening ends but it’s actually just the beginning because we have this
just the beginning because we have this
just the beginning because we have this new telescope installed and now it’s
new telescope installed and now it’s
new telescope installed and now it’s going to continue observing for the
going to continue observing for the
going to continue observing for the winter season and so even though our
winter season and so even though our
winter season and so even though our team has come and gone from Marion we
team has come and gone from Marion we
team has come and gone from Marion we have passed the torch on to cookie so
have passed the torch on to cookie so
have passed the torch on to cookie so melody who was shown in this photo and
melody who was shown in this photo and
melody who was shown in this photo and he is the superhero of the next chapter
he is the superhero of the next chapter
he is the superhero of the next chapter of our story but could because he is the
of our story but could because he is the
of our story but could because he is the person who is spending the winter on
person who is spending the winter on
person who is spending the winter on Marion to take care of our equipment so
Marion to take care of our equipment so
Marion to take care of our equipment so when all the sudden
when all the sudden
when all the sudden he will have been there for 13 months I
can tell you the internet from Marion is
can tell you the internet from Marion is pretty bad so no huge shout out to him
pretty bad so no huge shout out to him
pretty bad so no huge shout out to him so I hope I’ve convinced you tonight
so I hope I’ve convinced you tonight
so I hope I’ve convinced you tonight that with radio telescopes we can really
that with radio telescopes we can really
that with radio telescopes we can really explore some interesting and exciting
explore some interesting and exciting
explore some interesting and exciting uncharted territory in the universe’s
uncharted territory in the universe’s
uncharted territory in the universe’s history and in particular this period of
history and in particular this period of
history and in particular this period of cosmic dawn should be pretty fun to look
cosmic dawn should be pretty fun to look
cosmic dawn should be pretty fun to look at because wouldn’t it be nice to see
at because wouldn’t it be nice to see
at because wouldn’t it be nice to see the first stars igniting in the universe
the first stars igniting in the universe
the first stars igniting in the universe and in our search for you know
and in our search for you know
and in our search for you know exceptionally radio-quiet
exceptionally radio-quiet
exceptionally radio-quiet locations and clean skies our adventures
locations and clean skies our adventures
locations and clean skies our adventures have taken us to Marion Island which
have taken us to Marion Island which
have taken us to Marion Island which seems to be a wonderful new location for
seems to be a wonderful new location for
seems to be a wonderful new location for radio astronomy so we have our equipment
radio astronomy so we have our equipment
radio astronomy so we have our equipment up and running now and we’re doing our
up and running now and we’re doing our
up and running now and we’re doing our observations so please stay tuned to
observations so please stay tuned to
observations so please stay tuned to find out what we can learn from this
find out what we can learn from this
find out what we can learn from this very special location thank you very
very special location thank you very
very special location thank you very much
”
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