Friday, January 31 3-4 pm McLane Hall 162 All welcome!

1
COLLOQUIUM
Dr. Fred Ringwald Department of
Physics California State University, Fresno
The Cosmic Calendar A Hands-on Approach to the
History of the Universe
Abstract How can the human mind possibly
understand the concept of billions of years? Its
easy, really just compare it to something one
can understand. If one scales the 13-billion-year
history of the Universe on a calendar, each day
represents about 36 million years. This shows
that the Big Bang, the formation of the Solar
System, the origin of life on Earth, and the
development of complex life were all sudden
events and that the dinosaurs, supposedly so
ancient, existed only between December 25 and 29.
This will also be a hands-on talk, with
meteorites, fossils, and fossil replicas to be
passed aroundan approach Dr. Ringwald hopes will
be taken by the planned Downing Planetarium
Museum.
Friday, January 31 3-4 pmMcLane Hall 162All
welcome!