Our current understanding of the universe starts with a Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago that created a simple, featureless soup of subatomic particles and ends today with a complicated structure of galaxies, stars, and planets. An interesting period of the universe’s history—the first billion or so years when the first stars and galaxies formed—has largely remained hidden from our view by its great distance from us and the lack of light from these times.

It’s no secret that U.S. water infrastructure is failing. Flint, Michigan; Newark, New Jersey and other cities are experiencing serious water crises. Bad news captures headlines, but is there hope on the horizon? In his talk, Howard Neukrug, the former Commissioner and CEO of Philadelphia Water, explains the underlying factors that led to these water crises and what can be done to minimize similar problems in the future. He’ll also share some positive trends in innovation and ingenuity in the water sector.

Bhuvnesh Jain and Michael Weisberg discuss the mystery of Dark Matter and the use of some of the world’s largest telescopes to search for it. The lecture also features a screening of a partial rough cut of Weisberg’s new documentary, which follows a team of students searching for Dark Matter.

Russia and the West are locked in a fierce struggle.  Why?  And what effect is it having on our politics?  Professor Orenstein will answer these questions and discuss how Russia’s hybrid war on the West is affecting not only the U.S., but many other European countries, some of whom have been dealing with it for longer.  A look at the problems they have suffered provides important insight into and context for understanding our own problems.