Physics Colloquia
Abstract:
Climate change is one of the most challenging global issues that humankind faces. The earth average surface temperature has risen more than 1 degree since the pre-industrial time and 2023 was the warmest year since 1880, year when modern measurement records began. The basic chemistry and physics of climate change have been understood for more than a century and effects already well documented. Science and research have significantly improved our understanding of the causes and our response options: human activities are estimated to have caused the temperature increase since pre-industrial time and global warming is projected to increase if substantial and sustained actions to reduce the human impact are not taken soon. Exploring the pivotal role of science in shaping international and European climate change policy, we delve into the dynamic interplay between scientific advancements and policy decisions as the scientific community’s influence is undeniable, driving evidence-based strategies that navigate the complex challenges of climate change.
Seminario Fisica Teorica
Despite General Relativity’s experimental success, theoretical motivations suggest it may not offer the ultimate description of black hole physics. The entropy puzzle and the black hole information paradox are two challenges that any proposed theory of quantum gravity must confront. In this talk, I will introduce the “fuzzball proposal”, a conjecture arising from string theory’s construction of black holes in terms of strings and branes. According to this conjecture, strong quantum gravity effects that occur already at the horizon scale hold promise for providing a consistent microscopic description of black hole physics. I will then discuss various tools and techniques (including holography, shockwave perturbations and computational methods) which can be used to examine and corroborate this conjecture.
TBA