November BacchChat: Our cosmos unveiled

When and how did the universe begin? What gave rise to the many billions of stars and galaxies that exist today? And how might it all end? Will it, in fact, ever come to a halt?

These questions have perplexed philosophers of old. But now, aided by sophisticated new technologies, scientists have pieced together a compellingly coherent account of both the beginning and the end of our cosmos – with much now understood about the countless years between the mysterious start and possibly freakish finish.

With stunning photographs taken by the world’s most powerful telescopes, along with action-packed videos and computer animations of exotic phenomena such as colliding galaxies, Peter will take us on a memorable journey through space and time, as he paints a vivid picture of the amazing world in which we live.

Peter will sign copies of his latest book, Beginning to End: Our Universe Inside Out (ISBN: 9798549011915),

About the presenter:

Peter Spinks holds a master’s degree and has published in international academic journals. Since 1980, he has broadcast and written for some of the world’s foremost media organisations, including the BBC, The Guardian and The Observer newspapers and New Scientist magazine in London. In 1996, he moved to Melbourne to become The Age’s science reporter and columnist. He now writes popular science books and teaches science writing and research communications courses at universities worldwide.