Colloquium

Analogies have played a very important role in physics and mathematics, as they provide new ways of looking at problems that permit cross-fertilization of ideas among different branches of science. An analogue gravity model is a generic dynamical system (typically but not always based on condensed matter physics) where the propagation of excitations/perturbations can be described via hyperbolic equations of motion possibly characterized be one single metric element for all the perturbations.

We identify a new non-linear neutrino wake effect, due to the streaming motions of neutrinos relative to dark matter, analogous to the Tseliakhovich-Hirata effect. We compute the effect in moving background perturbation theory, compare to direct n-body simulations, and forecast its observability in current and future surveys. Depending on neutrino mass, this effect could be observable in upcoming surveys through a cross correlation dipole in lensing and galaxies.

Equality of two mathematical objects is a seemingly simple and well-understood concept. In this talk, I will do three things to explain why this is a misconception: I will survey different notions of equality, explain how revising the notion of equality has led to an emerging alternative foundation of mathematics called "homotopy type theory", and try to convince you that thinking about equality is relevant to your research in quantum field theory, quantum gravity or quantum foundations.

Canadian glass artist and Renaissance man, John Paul Robinson, explores the mythic potential of science. Explaining that, “This is the idea that scientific discovery is changing our mythology by changing our understanding of the world and our place in it.” Backed with a firm understanding of the science he references, his sculptures poetically interpret such theoretical phenomena as wave particles, string mathematics and black holes.