LabEx LIO is inviting Didier Queloz, winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, to give a talk for the general public in Villeurbanne on Thursday 12 December from 6-7.30pm. The theme will be exoplanets and life in the Universe.
Exoplanets and life in the Universe
Didier Queloz, winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics
Photo : ETH Zürich, Heidi Hostettler
The diversity and prolific number of planets discovered orbiting stars have revolutionised our understanding of the nature and formation of planets and the apparent rarity of planetary systems similar to our own. These results make it possible to probe the composition of planetary atmospheres in search of traces of activity linked to the possible emergence of life on them. At this conference, new perspectives on the origins of life will be presented in the light of recent experiments, as well as a possible long-term pathway for detecting Earth-like systems suitable for the remote study of life. A question-and-answer session will follow the talk, during which members of the audience will be able to ask Professor Queloz about his exciting research and his experience as a Nobel Prize winner.