SCEECS Outreach Program
Our outreach program, led by Matt Caplan (Illinois State University), combines immersive planetarium experiences with public science communication.
The program produced four full-dome planetarium shows, adapted from Kurzgesagt videos developed over the past decade. All shows are freely available through the ESO Planetarium Database, with pre-rendered fisheye versions on YouTube and VR companions for simulated dome viewing.
In parallel, the team contributed to public science communication through collaborations with PBS Space Time.
How Supernovas Act as Universe’s Largest Particle Accelerators
Cosmic ray acceleration featuring SCEECS graduate student Hayley West as an author.
Do Neutron Stars Shine In Dark Matter?
Axion halos around neutron stars, featuring co-author Anirudh Prabhu and some of his simulations.
Why Is All DNA Right Handed?
Hypothesis of cosmic ray helicity setting handness of chiral molecules on early earth, features research by Noemie Globus and Roger Blandford.
The NEW PHYSICS of Black Hole Star Capture | Extreme Tidal Disruption Events
This effort includes SCEECS graduate student co-author Andy Santarelli.
Did JWST SOLVE The Mystery of Supermassive Black Hole Origins?
Observations of a very high mass, early quasar, UHZ1.
What If There's A Black Hole Inside The Sun? | Hawking Stars
Stellar capture of primordial black holes as a test of PBH dark matter, featuring co-author Andy Santarelli, SCEECS graduate student.