A technique to sift out the universe’s first gravitational waves
Identifying primordial ripples would be key to understanding the conditions of the early universe.
Dec. 9, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics research black-holes school-of-science kavli-institute space-astronomy-and-planetary-science ligo
3 Questions: Hsin-Yu Chen on treading lightly when dating the universe
MIT postdoc finds the angle at which we view neutron star collisions could significantly impact age measurements.
Nov. 13, 2020 • ~6 min
physics astrophysics astronomy research black-holes school-of-science 3-questions kavli-institute ligo neutron-stars
Designing new mirror materials for better gravitational-wave detection
Nicholas Demos, a first-generation college graduate and MathWorks Fellow in MIT’s Kavli Institute, is improving our ability to listen to the cosmos.
Oct. 28, 2020 • ~7 min
physics astrophysics astronomy profile research stars black-holes students awards-honors-and-fellowships graduate-postdoctoral school-of-science kavli-institute space-astronomy-and-planetary-science ligo
The wobbling shadow of the M87* black hole
Analysis of Event Horizon Telescope observations from 2009 to 2017 reveals turbulent evolution of the M87* black hole image.
Sept. 23, 2020 • ~5 min
astrophysics astronomy research black-holes space-astronomy-and-planetary-science haystack-observatory
An unexpected origin story for a lopsided black hole merger
Researchers suggest a novel process to explain the collision of a large black hole and a much smaller one.
Sept. 2, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics astronomy research black-holes school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf kavli-institute space-astronomy-and-planetary-science ligo
A “bang” in LIGO and Virgo detectors signals most massive gravitational-wave source yet
A binary black hole merger likely produced gravitational waves equal to the energy of eight suns.
Sept. 2, 2020 • ~10 min
physics astrophysics astronomy data research black-holes school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf kavli-institute space-astronomy-and-planetary-science ligo
Are we still listening to space?
Despite the planet’s seeming standstill, graduate students continue to use LIGO to identify astrophysical events.
Aug. 19, 2020 • ~7 min
physics space covid-19 pandemic research black-holes school-of-science faculty kavli-institute ligo astronomy-and-planetary-science
In a first, astronomers watch a black hole’s corona disappear, then reappear
A colliding star may have triggered the drastic transformation.
July 15, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics space astronomy nasa research black-holes school-of-science kavli-institute satellites astronomy-and-planetary-science
Astronomers detect regular rhythm of radio waves, with origins unknown
Signal from 500 million light years away is the first periodic pattern of radio bursts detected.
June 17, 2020 • ~7 min
physics astrophysics space astronomy research black-holes school-of-science kavli-institute astronomy-and-planetary-science
Event Horizon Telescope observes a black hole-powered jet
MIT Haystack Observatory researchers coauthor a paper announcing the observation of a surprising structure in a distant quasar, 3C 279.
April 14, 2020 • ~6 min
astrophysics space astronomy research black-holes haystack-observatory astronomy-and-planetary-science
/
5