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
Lava oceans may not explain the brightness of some hot super-Earths
By making their own lava and cooled glass, scientists find these materials likely aren’t responsible for the unexpected glow of some exoplanets.
Aug. 4, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics space astronomy exoplanets research school-of-engineering school-of-science kavli-institute planetary-science eaps and-planetary-science
An origin story for a family of oddball meteorites
Study suggests the rare objects likely came from an early planetesimal with a magnetic core.
July 24, 2020 • ~8 min
space astronomy geology nasa research school-of-science planetary-science eaps 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
Portable system boosts laser precision, at room temperature
“Light squeezer” reduces quantum noise in lasers, could enhance quantum computing and gravitational-wave detection.
July 7, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics space astronomy quantum-computing light research school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf kavli-institute ligo astronomy-and-planetary-science
Quantum fluctuations can jiggle objects on the human scale
Study shows LIGO’s 40-kilogram mirrors can move in response to tiny quantum effects, revealing the “spooky popcorn of the universe.”
July 1, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics space astronomy research school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf kavli-institute ligo astronomy-and-planetary-science
TESS mission discovers massive ice giant
Neptune-sized planet may be remnant core of a much larger planet.
July 1, 2020 • ~5 min
astrophysics space astronomy exoplanets nasa research school-of-science planetary-science satellites eaps 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
Capturing stardust
Danielle Frostig, a physics graduate student, is developing an instrument to study how the heaviest elements in the universe are produced.
June 12, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics space graduate profile research students school-of-science kavli-institute ligo astronomy-and-planetary-science postdoctoral
Citizen scientists spot closest young brown dwarf disk yet
Discovery made through the Disk Detective project could help the search for new planets.
June 2, 2020 • ~8 min
physics astrophysics space astronomy exoplanets nasa research school-of-science kavli-institute planetary-science crowdsourcing astronomy-and-planetary-science
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