IIHE invited seminar: Recent progress in understanding ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

Abstract: In this talk a pedagogical introduction to our current
understanding the physics of the highest-energy particles of the
universe - ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is given. Focussing on the
progress made during the last decade thanks to data of the Pierre
Auger Observatory and Telescope Array, observations are discussed in
the context of their implications for various physics scenarios and
newly emerging questions are highlighted. The talk concludes with a
summary of ongoing efforts to upgrade existing cosmic ray detectors
and developing new ones with even larger aperture.