Is it a star? Is it a planet? No, it’s a brown dwarf! (IOP talk, Birmingham)

This Institute of Physics lecture explores brown dwarfs: objects that sit between planets and stars and are sometimes described as the Universe’s awkward middle children. The talk introduces what brown dwarfs are, how they are found, and why they are scientifically interesting, especially for understanding exoplanets and the atmospheres of substellar objects.

The event is designed as an accessible astronomy and physics talk, with an emphasis on discovery and current research. It also explains how interested audiences can get involved in brown dwarf discovery.

The speaker is Dr Jenni French, a Research Fellow in Exoplanets at the University of Birmingham, and the talk takes place in person at the University of Birmingham’s Poynting Building.