Category: Video

Cosmic Skeletons Dancing in a Stellar Graveyard

An international research collaboration, including four Northwestern University astronomers, is the first to detect the spectacular collision of two neutron stars in a nearby galaxy using both gravitational waves and light.

The Signal

CIERA Associate Director and Northwestern LIGO group member Shane Larson describes how different the 2017 Neutron Star Merger (GW170817) signal is from previous signals.

Binary Neutron Stars

What is a neutron star? What is it like when two neutron stars collide? Northwestern University astronomers describe the GW170817 merger of these massive objects in our Universe.

The Mass Gap Mystery

CIERA Associate Director and Northwestern LIGO group member Shane Larson describes how the masses of objects in our Universe is very important to astronomers’ understanding of events like GW170817.

What is LIGO?

CIERA Director and Northwestern LIGO group lead Vicky Kalogera talks about the different types of waves astronomers have used throughout history to study the Universe. Now, we are in the age of “multi-messenger” astronomy. This means that different types of waves from the same cosmic event can be studied.

What are Gravitational Waves?

Northwestern University astronomers talk about gravitational waves — what they are, how to understand them, and why they are important to studying the Universe.

What are Short Gamma Ray Bursts?

CIERA Director Vicky Kalogera and Associate Director Shane Larson talk about the history of gamma ray bursts, and the theory that short gamma ray bursts are caused by collisions of neutron starts. Now, that puzzle is solved!

Why is Science Important?

CIERA Associate Director and Northwestern LIGO group member Shane Larson says that inspiration and collaboration, two huge parts of scientific discoveries, can help us solve society’s problems.

Optical Telescope Follow-Up

After the spectacular collision of two neutron stars, which produced gravitational waves that were detected here on Earth, astronomers at Northwestern University describe how telescopes around the world looked for light.

When Stars Collide: A Neutron Star Death Spiral

An international research collaboration, including four Northwestern University astronomers, is the first to detect the spectacular collision of two neutron stars in a nearby galaxy using both gravitational waves and light.