Does the Big Bang stand up to scrutiny from ever-improving space telescopes, or do we need to rethink our models of everything we know about the origin of the universe…?
PubSci is a ‘pay-what-you-can’ event, your contributions are what keep it going. Please consider contributing via Eventbrite when booking.
For the third talk of our 2026 programme, PubSci is delighted to welcome Professor Andrew Jaffe to consider “Is everything we know about the Big Bang wrong?” on Wednesday 18th March.
What’s the story…?
Models and probability help us make sense of the cosmos, but what if our models are wrong? What would it take for us to change our minds about the origin of the universe. In this talk, an award-winning astrophysicist looks at how the understanding of uncertainty and randomness has led to breakthroughs in our knowledge of the cosmos.
In recent years, astronomers have built ever more sophisticated astronomical telescopes, deploying them on ever more ambitious satellites while constructing others in the darkest, quietest, most remote places on earth. These instruments have enabled the most precise measurements yet of the state of the cosmos, fleshing out the details of our Big Bang model which describes the history and evolution of the Universe itself.
But, as different teams – each employing different equipment and even more different methods – characterise key measurement of how the expansion of our Universe changes over time, something seems to be amiss: different teams are getting different results.
Does this mean that our models are wrong? Is it the measurements? Once we start pulling at one thread, might the whole tapestry of the Big Bang come apart?
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear Andrew delve into this knottiest of problems and untangle the biggest question of all: How did it all begin, how did we get where we are today, and how can we know any of this?
Copies of Andrew’s latest book, The Random Universe – How Models and Probability Help Us Make Sense of the Universe, will be on sale in the break and after the talk.
In Naked to the Bone, Mark – who is director of UCL’s Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging – explores the history and development of imaging before looking to the next generation of biomedical 3-d, full colour, multi-channel imaging that is even today already becoming a reality. Not only is the topic fascinating, the resulting images are truly stunning – and truly life-saving.
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How to Book Tickets
PubSci talks are pay-what-you-can: You can make a contribution when booking on Eventbrite. We have no other source of funding. There are two ticket options:
Book for one + Support PubSci (max 1 ticket) if you prefer to contribute when booking – this option also reserves you one spot at the event. You may need to scroll down to see this option on Eventbrite.
Book without donating (max 4 tickets) if you prefer to put cash in the pot on the night.
Doors open at 6.30 for a 7pm start. Talks generally run for ~45 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session. The Old King’s Head has a happy hour before 7pm, and the kitchen serves excellent pub grub. The nearest tube is London Bridge — full address below and on the booking page.
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About the speaker
Andrew H. Jaffe is professor of astrophysics and cosmology at Imperial College London and director of the Imperial Centre for Inference and Cosmology.
Using data from the Planck Surveyor Satellite, Euclid, LISA, and The Simons Observatory, his research concentrates on employing powerful statistical techniques to determine the contents and evolution of the Cosmos from those telescopes and satellites surveying the Universe. He is especially interested in the interpretation and analysis of cosmological data using principled Bayesian statistical techniques.
His book, The Random Universe – How Models and Probability Help Us Make Sense of the Cosmos, explores how understanding both uncertainty and randomness has led to breakthroughs in our knowledge of the cosmos, demystifying the role they play in the scientific process.
In it, Prof. Jaffe explains how scientists create, test, and refine their models by applying those paired concepts. The book explores how this approach has guided our knowledge of both quantum mechanics and the birth of the universe, serving it up in a highly readable blend of philosophy, probability theory, and cosmology science.
The Random Universe was published by Yale University Press in November 2025 and will be available to buy at PubSci.
Andrew Jaffe was born in the USA and lives in London, UK with his family.
PubSci is delighted to welcome Andrew as our March speaker.
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See the rest of our current programme
To make sure you don’t miss out on future events, subscribe to our Google Calendar to be the first to know when new talks are scheduled, and follow PubSci’s events on Eventbrite to be notified when tickets are available. You can also sign up to our own mailing list on any page on this site.
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PubSci is entirely funded by audience contributions and has no other income.
As a Pay-What-You-Can event, we don’t charge a fixed price for our talks, so anybody who wants to come can come. Think of it as “Free, with a donation”, which can be made when registering on Eventbrite or by putting a few pounds in the beer mug which is passed round on the night. You can also contribute digitally through our TipJar. Please help PubSci continue putting on events.
We aim to keep PubSci accessible for all, although it is unsuitable for under 18s as we meet in the function room of a pub. Regrettably, there is no wheelchair access.
Check out the Future Events page where you can also subscribe to our Google Calendar so PubSci events automatically appear in your own Calendar. You can find all our links on our LinkTree.
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PubSci is organised and hosted by science communicator, Richard Marshall, assisted by Mike Lucibella. It usually takes place on the third Wednesday of the month, upstairs at the Old King’s Head near London Bridge Underground (Borough High Street east side exit). Join us every month except December for your regular helping of Sipping, Supping & Science.
Address:
The Old King’s Head (upstairs room)
King’s Head Yard
45-49 Borough High Street
London SE1 1NA
PubSci 