Galaxy Formation, Intergalactic Medium, Active Galactic Nuclei, Galaxy-Black Hole Coevolution, Galaxy Clusters, Early Universe, Dark Matter
Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSSL/R.Soria et al, Optical: AURA/Gemini OBs
The most obvious large structures in the Universe are the galaxies, which over the span of cosmic time have been the nexus for both the evolution of stars and large-scale structure in the Universe. CIERA researchers are engaged in understanding both the evolution of the galaxies and the environments they are embedded in, as well as the stellar populations they are comprised of and the supermassive black holes they host.
Research at CIERA
CIERA researchers work on understanding the origins of structure in the Universe. Professor Faucher-Giguère’s group develops sophisticated cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy formation. The simulations are used to answer a wide variety of science questions, including how star formation is regulated in galaxies, how galaxies interact with the circum-galactic medium and the intergalactic medium, and how galaxies and their black holes co-evolve.
News
Gallery
‘Blob-like’ home of farthest-known fast radio burst is collection of seven galaxies
‘Blob-like’ home of farthest-known fast radio burst is collection of seven galaxies
A Hubble Space Telescope image of the host galaxy of an exceptionally powerful fast radio burst, FRB 20220610A. In summer 2022, astronomers detected the most powerful fast radio burst (FRB) ever observed. And coming from a location that dates halfway back to the Big Bang, it also was the farthest known FRB spotted to date.
NASA, ESA, STScI, Alexa Gordon (Northwestern)
- Science
Western Veil Nebula photographed by Imran Sultan
Western Veil Nebula photographed by Imran Sultan
The colorful Western Veil Nebula, photographed by graduate student and CIERA member Imran Sultan, is a stunning remnant left behind from the explosion of a massive star 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. Located 2,100 light-years away, the nebula resides within the constellation Cygnus (the Swan). Sultan’s photo of the Western Veil Nebula won first place in
Imran Sultan
- Interdisciplinary,
- Outreach,
- Achievement
‘Teenage galaxies’ are unusually hot, glowing with unexpected elements
‘Teenage galaxies’ are unusually hot, glowing with unexpected elements
Light from 23 distant galaxies, identified with red rectangles in the Hubble Space Telescope image at the top, were combined to capture incredibly faint emission from eight different elements, which are labelled in the JWST spectrum at the bottom. Although scientists regularly find these elements on Earth, astronomers rarely, if ever, observe many of them
Aaron M. Geller, Northwestern, CIERA + IT-RCDS
- Science
Bursts of star formation explain mysterious brightness at cosmic dawn
Bursts of star formation explain mysterious brightness at cosmic dawn
Artist conception of early starbursting galaxies. Stars and galaxies are shown in the bright white points of light, while the more diffuse dark matter and gas are shown in purples and reds. When scientists viewed the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) first images of the universe’s earliest galaxies, they were shocked. The young galaxies appeared
Aaron M. Geller, Northwestern, CIERA + IT-RCDS
- Science
Supernova SN2023ixf visible in pinwheel galaxy
Supernova SN2023ixf visible in pinwheel galaxy
Graduate student Imran Sultan’s photo of the recently visible supernova (SN2023ixf) in the pinwheel galaxy M101. The image was taken overnight, May 20-21, 2023 about 70 miles outside of Chicago. Imran used an 80mm refractor and a DSLR on a star tracker.
Imran Sultan
- Outreach
Supernova SN2023ixf visible in pinwheel galaxy (labeled)
Supernova SN2023ixf visible in pinwheel galaxy (labeled)
Graduate student Imran Sultan’s photo of the recently visible supernova (SN2023ixf) in the pinwheel galaxy M101. The image was taken overnight, May 20-21, 2023 about 70 miles outside of Chicago. Imran used an 80mm refractor and a DSLR on a star tracker.
Imran Sultan
- Outreach
People
Core Faculty
Kari Frank
Director of Operations of CIERA, Research Assistant Professor
Associate Faculty
External Faculty
Sarah Wellons
Visiting Scholar, Tenure-Track Faculty at Wesleyan
Postdocs
Graduate Students
