First Chester Peterson public lecture bringing internationally known theoretical physicist to K-State to discuss Einstein's 'blunder'

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Source: Nidhi Mungali, 785-532-6234, nidhi@phys.k-state.edu
http://www.phys.ksu.edu/origins/
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Thursday, March 1, 2007

FIRST CHESTER PETERSON JR. PUBLIC LECTURE BRINGING INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN THEORETICAL PHYSICIST TO K-STATE TO DISCUSS EINSTEIN'S 'BLUNDER'

MANHATTAN -- A new lecture series at Kansas State University is bringing an internationally known theoretical physicist to discuss how Albert Einstein's "mistake" may have been right on target.

Lawrence M. Krauss will present "Einstein's Biggest Blunder?: A Cosmic Mystery Story" at 7 p.m. Monday, March 12, in the K-State Alumni Center's ballroom. The lecture is the inaugural event in the recently established Peterson Public Lecture Series in Physics. It is co-sponsored by K-State's department of physics and K-State's Center for the Understanding of Origins, the K-State honors program and Phi Beta Kappa. The lecture is free and the public is welcome.

Krauss will discuss how Einstein needed some wiggle room in his theory of relativity, which seemed not to hold up when looking at the universe on a large scale. So Einstein came up with a "cosmological constant," which within a decade was thought to be unnecessary. Einstein called the cosmological constant his "biggest blunder." However, new observations now suggest that most of the energy density of the universe today may be contained in empty space -- which is what Einstein's cosmological constant described. In the lecture, Krauss will address what this could mean for the understanding of nature, physics and life.

Krauss is a teacher, lecturer and author. His research interests include the interface between elementary particle physics and cosmology, including the early universe, the nature of dark matter, general relativity and neutrino astrophysics. Krauss is recognized for bringing science to general audiences through lectures at places like the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and through his books, including the national bestseller, "The Physics of Star Trek."

While at K-State, Krauss also will present a colloquium for the physics department at 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 12, in 103 Cardwell Hall. "Life, the Universe and Nothing: The Dismal Future in an Ever-Expanding Universe" will explore how the realization that empty space probably contains most of the observable universe's energy has changed perspectives in areas like the future of life and computation in the universe, future evolution of structure and the nature of fundamental physical laws. The free colloquium is open to the public.

The Peterson Public Lecture Series in Physics was established by Chester Peterson Jr., Lindsborg, to present an annual public lecture series featuring cosmology or quantum mechanics. Peterson is a Kansas native and K-State alum who founded the lecture series with the hope of getting potential students interested in modern physics. The lectures will take place at primarily at K-State, with every third lecture taking place at the University of Kansas.

K-State's Center for the Understanding of Origins sponsors both academic and public speakers with the intent to foster informed debate among citizens regarding subjects like evolution. More information on the center is available at http://www.phys.ksu.edu/origins