Dec. 29 – It constitutes a large part of our universe, yet dark matter is still a mystery. And dark matter, galaxies, energy, and gravitational effects are the focus of a special event, scheduled for tomorrow (at 8pm) at Italian Cultural Institute in Amsterdam. Organized by the Institute as part of the events of the Italian Presidency of the European Union and the 14th edition of the Week of the Italian Language in the World, the conference focuses on “Behind the Scenes of the Universe: the mystery of dark matter.” The main speaker is Gianfranco Bertone, Associate Professor of Physics and Cosmology at the University of Amsterdam, and active member of the center of excellence Grappa (grappa.science.uva.nl). Bertone will take the public on a fascinating and interesting journey across the universe. He will recount the important discoveries and theories that shape our understanding, including the most important of all: the discovery of dark matter, an unknown and elusive substance that scientists see with telescopes and measure in labs. Dark matter is one of the most interesting challenges of modern science, as scientists all over race to identify this mysterious form of matter. The CERN in Geneva, for example, uses the LHC (the largest microscope on earth) at CERN in Geneva, but experimental astrophysicists also study particles in the air and buried underground. Their goal is the same: understand what constitutes a large part of our universe. Bertone will thus speak of the far-reaching consequences of this discovery, using ideas and concepts borrowed from art and literature.
