June 23
Listening to the Universe with gravitational waves and LISA
Speaker: Dr. Ira Thorpe, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Abstract: Almost everything we know about the unimaginably vast cosmos comes from observations of light. Over the centuries, our view of the universe has grown increasingly rich and detailed through technologies such as the telescope, the CCD, radio telescopes, high-energy detectors, and space observatories. Yet even with these advances, parts of the universe remain hidden from us because they communicate not through light, but through ripples in spacetime itself.
These ripples, known as gravitational waves, are produced by some of the most violent and energetic events in the cosmos: the collapse of stars, the collision of black holes, and perhaps even the birth of the universe itself. In the last decade, international teams of scientists and engineers have developed an entirely new class of instruments that allows us to observe this gravitational-wave universe directly. The scientific impact of these discoveries has been profound, answering long-standing questions while revealing entirely new mysteries.
In the next decade, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will bring this revolution into space, opening a new window onto the universe and offering unprecedented insights into black holes, galaxies, and the evolution of the cosmos. In this talk, I will provide a ground-level introduction to gravitational waves, what we have learned so far, and what LISA may teach us in the years ahead.
https://science.umd.edu/events/lisa-2026.html
Hoff Theater in Stamp Student Union, doors open at 6pm
https://stamp.umd.edu/meeting_events/event_guest_services/rooms/hoff_theater
Host: 16th International LISA Symposium