1. October 2011 David Toback, Texas A&M University Research Topics Seminar 1 David Toback Texas A&M University May 2014 College and Career Day Bryan Collegiate High School

2. A little about me… May 20142 I grew up on the south side of Chicago Went to college at MIT and then to graduate school at the University of Chicago I now work at Texas A&M University Whoop! I am a Professor of Physics and Astronomy which means I’m BOTH a Scientist AND a Teacher David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

3. Today May 2014 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate 3 I asked you guys to send me the questions YOU wanted to know the answer to They were AWESOME! Loved them! What are we going to do today? –I made a set of (some of) the questions y’all asked –I included some others I was guessing you’d like to hear about –You will VOTE on which questions you want to hear about –We’ll answer them until we run out of time.

4. 1. Questions you asked… What is a Quasar and how does it form? What kind of telescope would you recommend to observe nebulas and stars? Will teleportation ever exist? and how would it be possible? Is it possible to stay alive long enough to really see a black hole? Would you die instantaneously? How does Hawking radiation escape a black hole if light cannot escape? How did physicists experimentally show quantum entanglement? May 20144 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

5. 2. More about my career? May 20145 How did you decide where to apply to college? How did you decide which college to go to? How did I decide to be come a scientist? How old was I when I knew I wanted to be a scientist? What is my favorite part of being a scientist/teacher? Do I like my job? David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

6. 3. How to select a college Most people do what I call the “US News and World Report” Style –Decide what “Number you are” –Apply to bunch of schools based on location ~3 above your number ~3 around your number ~3 blow your number –Go to the highest one you get into and/or can afford I encourage something different: –Spend some real time figuring out what you want to be DOING 5 years from now, 10 years from now and 20 years from now Don’t need to have figured it out, but you should spend some real time trying –Figure out what schools will be the most likely to help you get there –Apply to those, and go to the one that is the best fit for you May 20146 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

7. 4: Others like ours? Is there another planet like the Earth? Are there other planets outside the solar system? Is there another star like the Sun? How many stars in the Milky Way? How many galaxies are there? 7May 2014 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

8. 5: Planets and other stuff Why isn’t Pluto a planet any more? Is there life on other planets? Will we travel to other planets soon? Could we live on other planets? Can we travel to other stars? Can we travel to other galaxies? 8May 2014 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

9. 6: The Sun How far away is the Sun? How hot is the surface of the Sun? How hot is the center of the Sun? –How cold is outer space? How long will the Sun shine? Will our Sun explode in a Supernova? What WILL happen to our Sun? 9May 2014 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

10. 7: Black Holes Are black holes real? How close is the closest black holes? Should I be worried? How are black holes created? Are there really Supermassive Black Holes? What would happen if you fell into a black hole? 10May 2014 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

11. 8: Aliens Do you believe in aliens? What would happen if you met an alien? Will we go to other planets to meet aliens? Do you want to meet aliens? 11May 2014 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

12. 9: Water in outer space Want to see what happens to water in outer space? Check this out: http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013 /04/21/177949605/a-wet-towel-in- space-is-not-like-a-wet-towel-on-earth May 201412 David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate

13. That’s it May 201413 Enjoy your science classes! Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions! Look for answers on the internet –Find the answer on two different pages and see if they agree! Email me if you have more questions –toback@tamu.edu Join my Facebook page: –Learning-about-the-Big-Bang-and-Black-Holes- Without-the-Math –If you send me fun things you find, I’ll post them! David Toback, Texas A&M University Bryan Intercollegiate