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Dying stars’ cocoons could be new source of gravitational waves

Video

Dying stars’ cocoons could be new source of gravitational waves

When massive stars collapse into black holes, they may create powerful outflows (or jets) of particles traveling close to the speed of light. New simulations model this process — from the time the star collapses into a black hole until the jet escapes. For the first time, the simulations show that the cocoon of stellar

Ore Gottlieb/Northwestern/CIERA

  • Science

Aaron Geller and Alex Gurvich showcase Firefly on AAS Journal Author Series

Interview

Aaron Geller and Alex Gurvich showcase Firefly on AAS Journal Author Series

On May 27, 2023, CIERA Research Assistant Professor Aaron Geller and former NSF Graduate Fellow Alex Gurvich were featured on the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Journal Author Series to showcase Firefly, their new browser-based interactive tool for visualizing 3D particle data sets. Geller and Gurvich were interviewed by the AAS’s Frank Timmes. Read the full news story

  • Event

Medium-sized black holes eat stars like messy toddlers

Video

Medium-sized black holes eat stars like messy toddlers

New 3D computer simulations created by graduate student Fulya Kıroğlu show the eating habits of intermediate-mass black holes, which have yet to be discovered in observations. When a star approaches an intermediate-mass black hole, it initially gets caught in the black hole’s orbit. Every time the star makes a lap, the black hole takes a

Fulya Kiroglu/Northwestern/CIERA

  • Science

Data Science Challenges in Gravitational Wave Surveys: a CIERA Interdisciplinary Colloquium by Tyson Littenburg

Event

Data Science Challenges in Gravitational Wave Surveys: a CIERA Interdisciplinary Colloquium by Tyson Littenburg

Dr. Tyson Littenburg presents an Interdisciplinary Colloquium on April 13, 2023, organized by Northwestern University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics. Read the full CIERA News story here.

  • Event,
  • Interdisciplinary,
  • Data Science & Computing

“Dance of the Black Holes”, composed by Darsan Swaroop Bellie

Event

“Dance of the Black Holes”, composed by Darsan Swaroop Bellie

“Dance of the Black Holes” is an original composition by CIERA Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow Darsan Swaroop Bellie (on drums) and the debut performance of the Star Eyes Initiative. The performance took place during the CIERA-hosted LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration meeting networking event on March 15, 2023. Composer’s Notes below: Focusing on a binary black hole system, the

  • Education,
  • Event,
  • Outreach,
  • Interdisciplinary

Northwestern University, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Interview

Northwestern University, Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University engages in exciting, world-leading research in physics and astronomy and attracts a diverse, motivated community of scientists and teachers. The department offers graduate and undergraduate students an engaging learning environment and post-doctoral researchers fascinating research in areas like condensed matter physics, astrophysics and superconducting technologies. The

  • Outreach