Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

From Earth to the Universe
2025-07-19 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-22 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-24 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-26 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-29 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-31 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-08-02 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-05 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) and 21 more dates

Carolina Science Cafe: The Big Bang
2026-02-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Reaching back to the Big Bang from one of the highest places on Earth

Scientists are pushing to the most extreme observing sites in the world to study the universe’s most ancient light. New telescopes and cameras harness cryogenic cooling power to deploy pixels chilled to near absolute zero to study the remnants of the Big Bang. During February’s Carolina Science Cafe, Dr. Eve Vavagiakis will introduce the cosmic microwave background and shine some light on how we use the universe as a laboratory for fundamental physics. In addition, she will discuss exciting new telescopes and what it’s like to deploy cutting-edge technologies on ancient stratovolcanoes in the Chilean Atacama Desert.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe is a free program that explores science topics making national and international headlines, offering the chance to meet the experts behind the work. This special program is hosted at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Dr. Eve Vavagiakis (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at Duke University and a previous postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University. In her spare time, she enjoys anything active and outdoors, especially climbing mountains, even when there aren’t telescopes on top.

See the speaker’s work

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!
