About the lecture

In this first mini-lecture, we give an overview of how our understanding of the Universe and gravity has evolved, focusing in particular on: (i) early models of the Universe, including the Aristotelian-Ptolemaic model and Copernicus’ heliocentric model; (ii) the astronomical findings of Tycho Brahe that led to Johannes Kepler’s laws of planetary motion; (iii) the founders of modern science: Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton; and (iv) gravity’s intrinsic properties, including its dominance in the Universe.

About the lecturer

Jens Gundlach is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. He was a recipient of the 2021 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for precision fundamental measurements that test our understanding of gravity, probe the nature of dark energy, and establish limits on couplings to dark matter. Naturally, his research interests include experimental fundamental physics, however Professor Gundlach also conducts research in biophysics. In particular, he is interested in nanopore sequencing of DNA.