Faith and research: An annual tradition
On Dec. 9 and 11, Grant Mathews, professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Notre Dame, will present his annual astrophysical perspective on the origins of the star of Bethlehem — also known as the Christmas Star.
Now in its 16th year, the lecture takes a closer look at one of the most symbolic aspects of the Christmas season through the eyes of science — and it has become an annual tradition, which was Mathews’ hope from the start.
“Some families come every year,” Mathews said. “They bring their kids. They bring their grandkids. The Christmas season is a time to give back to the community. So, I asked myself, ‘What can the College of Science do?’ Science is communication. It’s an art form. Any chance you have to communicate with the public is a blessing. It’s a chance to do what God made you to do.”
Mathews’ research includes analysis of historical, astronomical and biblical records going back to 6 B.C. to determine what Zoroastrian priests of ancient Babylon and Mesopotamia actually saw that led them to the birthplace of Jesus.
Read more about Mathews’ study on the star of Bethlehem.
He believes the event was a rare planetary alignment in the constellation Aries in 6 B.C., which won’t be seen again. Current calculations show a similar alignment won’t occur again for 16,000 years — and the exact alignment believed to be the Bethlehem Star is not found in calculations looking as far as 500,000 years into the future.
“Science is around us all of the time,” said Mathews. “Here is this significant astronomical event associated with the Christmas season. Through an astrophysical lens, we can better understand the nature of the Christmas star. In the process of researching it, I’ve found it to have a very interesting, spiritually rich history.”
“What and when was the Christmas Star?” will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 (Friday) and 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (Sunday) at Notre Dame’s Digital Visualization Theater, located in the Jordan Hall of Science.
The event is free and open to the public.
Originally published by news.nd.edu on December 01, 2022.
atLatest Research
- Hauenstein, Putman named as Simons FellowsTwo University of Notre Dame professors were named fellows of the Simons Foundation for 2024, which will allow them the opportunity to intensely focus on their research for up to a year. Jonathan…
- Literacy scholar Ernest Morrell elected to American Academy of Arts & SciencesErnest Morrell, the Coyle Professor of Literacy Education at the University of Notre Dame, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers. Morrell was one of the 250 members of the newest AAAS class announced today. Other notable names among the group include filmmaker George Clooney, Apple CEO Tim Cook, novelist Jhumpa Lahiri, and Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and 1993 Notre Dame alumnus Carlos Lozada.
- Notre Dame faculty fight malaria resurgence in BangladeshBetween 2008 and 2020, districts across the country of Bangladesh saw a 93% reduction in malaria cases. Today, as the world reflects on the World…
- Anthropologist's research shows there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to addressing men’s health issues globallyAt a time when health resources are at a premium and need to be wisely allocated, health professionals must find points within men’s lives when it makes the most sense to intervene and advocate for preventive care for promoting better health outcomes. Life transitions such as marriage and fatherhood are often pivotal and crucial intervention points. But just like every man is different, health concerns across global communities differ as well. Research from the University of Notre Dame finds that not all life transitions produce the same health results, and not all men’s global health policies should look the same from one country to another.
- How postdoctoral researcher Seth Koren makes sense of the universe’s mysteries using physicsBillions of years ago, the very early universe was incredibly hot and dense — conditions could only be described as extreme. Today, physicists attempt to recreate these conditions using enormous accelerators, detectors and colliders to get particles up to the high energy that existed long ago.…
- From the army to anthropology: Postdoc’s path to peace-and-justice researchHelal Khan’s path to becoming an anthropologist who researches peace and justice has taken him all over the world. In his home country of Bangladesh, Khan was an army officer stationed along the Myanmar…