Worlds Revealed Speaker Series | Magnetic Mayhem

The Worlds Revealed Speaker Series presents 'Magnetic Mayhem: How Young Stars Make Life Difficult for Their Planets' with Dr. Clara Brasseur on May 22, 2026, 7:00–8:00 pm at the Lowell Universe Theater, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ. Dr. Brasseur, a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at Lowell Observatory, explores the intense magnetic activity of young stars and its consequences for orbiting planets. Her research focuses on cool stars and brown dwarfs, using radio telescopes to detect magnetic fields in stellar atmospheres, with a particular interest in stellar flares in the ultraviolet. In this talk, she presents findings from a model compared against real-world radio telescope observations, which confirmed the existence of a massive "magnetic bubble" stretching 8 to 10 times a star's width. She discusses the implications for planetary habitability: many planets orbit directly inside these high-energy bubbles, and their early exposure to this magnetic mayhem likely played a defining role in shaping their atmospheres and potential to support life. The Worlds Revealed series invites diverse staff and experts to share unique perspectives bridging science, art, and exploration. Each talk is approximately 45 minutes and is included with General Admission to Lowell Observatory. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at Visitor Services.