Life Solved Live: When stars die and black holes collide

Inaugural Lectures by Professor Or Graur and Professor Ian Harry. Our Universe is full of mysteries. Some of the world leaders in solving those mysteries do so at the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation. In this fascinating double bill of talks, two professors share their incredible discoveries. You’ll hear how researchers hunt for signs of tidal disruption events – bursts of light emitted by stars that die by being shredded by supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies. And you’ll find out how the first observation of gravitational waves a decade ago has revolutionised the science of astronomy. These ripples in the fabric of spacetime allow us to see what happens when black holes and neutron stars collide. This Life Solved Live event is your chance to hear first-hand how researchers are tackling some of the most complex questions in existence – and what drives them to do it. An Inaugural Lecture is one of the most prestigious Life Solved Live events. It’s a celebration of the career of a professor and the difference they make. On 4 November 2026 we present two journeys into space in one evening. In From Dying Stars to Milky Way Myths, Professor of Astrophysics, Or Graur, promises a ‘whirlwind tour’ of his research programme since joining the University of Portsmouth. Professor Graur says: ‘I will start by describing how I use telescopes on Earth and in space to discover and study supernovae – the explosions of stars – and learn which types of stars end up as the different types of supernovae that we observe. ‘Since joining Portsmouth, I have published two popular astronomy books on supernovae and galaxies. The most recent sparked an interest in the multicultural mythology of the Milky Way. In the last part of my talk, I will show how I and members of my group study the conceptualisation of the Milky Way in different cultures, including ancient Egypt and the Arabic-speaking world.’ In Probing the Extremes of the Universe with Gravitational Waves, Professor of Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Ian Harry, will take us inside plans for the next generation of gravitational wave astronomy: massive 50km long detectors on Earth and novel space-based observatories. Professor Harry says: ‘These future instruments will allow us to probe the earliest moments of the Universe, test how matter behaves in the most extreme situations, and uncover the origins of the supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies. ‘My research group in Prtsmouth focuses both on observing and understanding the black hole collisions detected today and developing the new analysis techniques needed for these future observatories. In this talk, I will discuss the past, present, and future of gravitational-wave astronomy – and Portsmouth's leading contribution within this expanding field.’ Don’t miss this unique double bill of awe-inspiring talks. To book your FREE tickets, select how many you want, then click the ‘Reserve a spot’ button. Keen to hear more about world-changing research and the amazing people who do it? The Life Solved podcast has shared well over 100 stories to date. Listen now.