Afternoon of Astrophysics - Professor Stephen Smartt

Afternoon of Astrophysics - June 2026 'Cosmic Explosions in the Sky' Abstract The Universe is a violent and dynamic environment, in which the explosions of massive stars can outshine an entire galaxy, supermassive black holes swallow stars whole, merging neutron stars cause ripples in the fabric of spacetime, and particles are accelerated to energies far surpassing anything possible in laboratories on the Earth. The extremes of physics – density, temperature, pressure, velocity, gravitational and magnetic fields – experienced in these environments provide a unique glimpse at the laws of physics operating in extraordinary regimes. Such ‘extreme astrophysics’, is a high priority for global research in the 21st century, and Oxford is leading the way, chasing these elusive and transient phenomena. Professor Rob Fender introduced the subject of astrophysical transients. Following this Wetton Professor Stephen Smartt discussed how we study supernovae, the extraordinarily luminous explosions that mark the death throes of massive stars, and furthermore how he and his group have chased and identified the optical counterpart to the first gravitational wave burst associated with the merging of two neutron stars. Dr Katie Savard showed how we can simulate these relativistic astrophysical transients, involving huge masses moving at large fractions of the speed of light, in powerful computers, to gain insights into the physics taking place. Introduced by Professor Pedro Ferreira, Head of Astrophysics at the Department of Physics, University of Oxford, and followed by a panel discussion/Q&A. All copyright Department of Physics. If you would like to use part or whole of these videos and series, please seek written permission from us. --- Welcome to the official YouTube channel of the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, one of the world’s leading centres for physics research and education. Our researchers investigate the universe at every scale — from cosmology and particle physics to quantum technologies, climate science, medical physics, and advanced materials. Alongside fundamental discoveries, our work contributes to real-world challenges including renewable energy, healthcare technologies, and understanding the Earth’s climate. Each year around 195 students join our undergraduate physics degrees, while around 100 postgraduate researchers from across the world begin doctoral study in our research groups. Together we form a global community dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and training the next generation of physicists. Learn more about Oxford Physics: https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/ Study at Oxford Physics Undergraduate degrees (BA, MPhys, MPhysPhil) https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/study/un... Postgraduate study and DPhil programmes https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/study/po... Follow Oxford Physics X — https://x.com/oxfordphysics Instagram —   / physics_oxford   Facebook —   / physicsoxford   LinkedIn —   / university-of-oxford-department-of-physics   Bluesky — https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordphysic... Subscribe for research highlights, lectures, student stories, and insights from physicists at Oxford.