John Huerta (University of Lisbon) will be speaking in the algebra seminar this week. We will go out for lunch after the talk---all are welcome to join! When: 12-1pm Friday 18 October Where: Carslaw 275 Title: Vertex superalgebras from prefactorization algebras Abstract: Factorization algebras are a mathematical framework for the observables and symmetries of quantum field theory developed by Costello and Gwilliam. Inspired by the chiral algebras of Beilinson and Drinfeld, an important test case for the formalism was the construction of vertex algebras from a sufficiently nice class of factorization algebras on the complex plane, along with specific factorization algebra analogues of important vertex algebras. We recount joint ongoing work with Rui Peixoto showing that this construction can be superized. In particular, we describe the factorization algebra analogue of the super Kac-Moody vertex algebra, and touch on the super-Virosoro algebra if time permits. We will not assume any familiarity with vertex algebras or mathematical physics for this talk.