The Russell Frank Astronomy Lecture Series
UNLV Department of Physics & Astronomy
Whispers from the Cosmos:
The Dawn of Gravitational Wave Astronomy
Professor Shane L. Larson
Northwestern University
We tell the story of the discovery of gravitational waves (awarded the Physics Nobel Prize this year). These waves reveal what happens when two black holes collide, how the inner core of a star destroys itself during a supernova explosion, and how the graveyard of the galaxy is filled with the whisper of binary white dwarf stars that spiral together as they fade into oblivion. We will also look ahead to the future of this new branch of astronomy.
This talk is intended for a general audience including enthusiasts of all backgrounds and ages.
