We are all stardust

A magical evening of science, music and poetry

On March 28, 2026, the Sala dei Giganti in Padua hosted an extraordinary evening organized by the RFX Consortium, in collaboration with the Accademia di Belle Arti and the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Music in Venice, under the patronage of the Municipality of Padua and the University of Padua, as part of the NEFERTARI-PNRR project.

From an idea by Maria Teresa Orlando

We Are All Stardust took the audience on an exciting and immersive journey from the origins of the universe to the challenges of nuclear fusion, the energy that powers the sun and the stars, which researchers today are attempting to reproduce on Earth.

Evening highlights

The journey was guided by Maria Pia Timo (Colorado, Zelig), alongside scientific communicators Piero Martin, full professor at the University of Padua, and Matteo Zuin, senior researcher at CNR-ITSP. Together with Matteo Zuin, Valeria Barassi, Leonardo Pugatto and the composer Dario Michelon, they masterfully conveyed the birth of the elements and the research conducted at the RFX Consortium, captivating the audience with a mix of narrative balance, humor, and scientific depth.

Three acts of science and wonder:

1. From the origins of the universe to the birth of life – immersive projections, music, and lights guided the audience through the formation of stars, elements, and life itself, blending science and comedy.
2. The challenge of fusion on Earth – visual contributions and scientific insights revealed experiments with plasma and advanced technologies, bringing the audience into the heart of research.
3. Human gaze to the sky – a poetic finale with dialogues between Galileo Galilei and Giovanni Pascoli, accompanied by an original Bach arrangement by Dario Michelon, weaving science, music, and philosophical reflection.

An enthusiastic audience

The audience, large and enthusiastic, participated fully throughout the evening. Post-event comments included:

“An extraordinary experience: science, art, and comedy perfectly blended.”
“I didn’t expect to be so moved! The evening was surprising and engaging.”
“Great balance between scientific explanations and entertainment: applause to all the performers.”
“Must be repeated!”

The evening demonstrated how scientific outreach can inspire, engage, and move people, making science both accessible and fascinating.

Because yes, we truly are… all stardust.

• Look at the poster
• Read the program

Per maggiori informazioni mail to: relazioniesterne@igi.cnr.it