Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology
@gwacwvu.bsky.social
We are a scientific Center with experts in observational and theoretical astrophysics, radio instrumentation, gravitational wave astrophysics, multi-messenger astronomy, fast radio bursts, cosmology, galaxy formation and pulsars. https://gwac.wvu.edu/home
Pinned
NSF-funded Astrophysics and Plasma Physics REU Program 2026! Are you an undergraduate student looking for a paid research opportunity this summer? We got you!
Research projects will focus on space plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, & more.
gwac.wvu.edu/reu
#REU
Research projects will focus on space plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, & more.
gwac.wvu.edu/reu
#REU
NSF-funded Astrophysics and Plasma Physics REU Program 2026! Are you an undergraduate student looking for a paid research opportunity this summer? We got you!
Research projects will focus on space plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, & more.
gwac.wvu.edu/reu
#REU
Research projects will focus on space plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, & more.
gwac.wvu.edu/reu
#REU
December 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
NSF-funded Astrophysics and Plasma Physics REU Program 2026! Are you an undergraduate student looking for a paid research opportunity this summer? We got you!
Research projects will focus on space plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, & more.
gwac.wvu.edu/reu
#REU
Research projects will focus on space plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, & more.
gwac.wvu.edu/reu
#REU
Our researchers on the CHIME team had a big moment in 2025 as the team discovered the repeating fast radio burst source FRB 20240209A. Our Center researchers part of the discovery were Mohit Bhardwaj, Emmanuel Fonseca, Bikash Kharel, & Swarali Patil. 🤩🤩🤩🤩
aasnova.org/2025/12/17/s...
aasnova.org/2025/12/17/s...
Selections from 2025: A Repeating Fast Radio Burst in a Quiescent Galaxy
The repeating fast radio burst source FRB 20240209A is the only known repeating burst to come from a quiescent galaxy.
aasnova.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Our researchers on the CHIME team had a big moment in 2025 as the team discovered the repeating fast radio burst source FRB 20240209A. Our Center researchers part of the discovery were Mohit Bhardwaj, Emmanuel Fonseca, Bikash Kharel, & Swarali Patil. 🤩🤩🤩🤩
aasnova.org/2025/12/17/s...
aasnova.org/2025/12/17/s...
Tomorrow! 🔭We will place bets that is will be one of the best WVUniverse talks of the year. Graham brings a witty approach to his talks; this one promises to be a fun one as he does a deep dive into this historical account in radio astronomy. Free and open to all ages.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
December 11, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Tomorrow! 🔭We will place bets that is will be one of the best WVUniverse talks of the year. Graham brings a witty approach to his talks; this one promises to be a fun one as he does a deep dive into this historical account in radio astronomy. Free and open to all ages.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
This Friday! Come and learn about wild historical events and how the space shuttle helped shape the field of radio astronomy.
Laughs guaranteed!
The talk is free and open to all ages.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
Laughs guaranteed!
The talk is free and open to all ages.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 4:20 PM
This Friday! Come and learn about wild historical events and how the space shuttle helped shape the field of radio astronomy.
Laughs guaranteed!
The talk is free and open to all ages.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
Laughs guaranteed!
The talk is free and open to all ages.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
We have PAID undergraduate research opportunities this summer! Dates: May 18-July 24, 2026
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
Research projects will focus on space and laboratory plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, and telescope instrumentation.
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
Research projects will focus on space and laboratory plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, and telescope instrumentation.
December 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
We have PAID undergraduate research opportunities this summer! Dates: May 18-July 24, 2026
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
Research projects will focus on space and laboratory plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, and telescope instrumentation.
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
Research projects will focus on space and laboratory plasma physics, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, supernova remnants, and telescope instrumentation.
PAID research opportunities this summer! We have an NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program here in the prestigious @wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Program dates are May 18-July 2026
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
Program dates are May 18-July 2026
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
December 4, 2025 at 11:14 PM
PAID research opportunities this summer! We have an NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program here in the prestigious @wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Program dates are May 18-July 2026
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
Program dates are May 18-July 2026
Program details can be found at: gwac.wvu.edu/reu
Reposted by Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities #IDPwD.
ESA keeps moving forward the conversation to break down barriers and make space and science accessible to all.
#EveryoneIncluded #AccessibleWorld
ESA keeps moving forward the conversation to break down barriers and make space and science accessible to all.
#EveryoneIncluded #AccessibleWorld
December 3, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities #IDPwD.
ESA keeps moving forward the conversation to break down barriers and make space and science accessible to all.
#EveryoneIncluded #AccessibleWorld
ESA keeps moving forward the conversation to break down barriers and make space and science accessible to all.
#EveryoneIncluded #AccessibleWorld
Join us for the last WVUniverse talk of 2025! This talk, featuring Graham Doskoch, will blend history, radio astronomy and the space race. You won't want to miss this all-ages talk. Grab your family and friends, and join us. gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Join us for the last WVUniverse talk of 2025! This talk, featuring Graham Doskoch, will blend history, radio astronomy and the space race. You won't want to miss this all-ages talk. Grab your family and friends, and join us. gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/11...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
Reposted by Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology
In a recent episode of SETI Live, SETI Institute Deputy Director Dr. Simon Steel spoke with astronomer Dr. Melissa McClure of Leiden University about a groundbreaking discovery: the earliest stages of planet formation caught in action. 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/birth-o...
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/birth-o...
Birth of Planets: JWST Spots Hot Mineral Condensation in a Proto-Stellar System
www.seti.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
In a recent episode of SETI Live, SETI Institute Deputy Director Dr. Simon Steel spoke with astronomer Dr. Melissa McClure of Leiden University about a groundbreaking discovery: the earliest stages of planet formation caught in action. 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/birth-o...
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/birth-o...
New paper Thursday! ✨💫
Evidence for a Hot Galactic Halo around the Andromeda Galaxy Using Fast Radio Bursts along Two Sightlines:
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...
Evidence for a Hot Galactic Halo around the Andromeda Galaxy Using Fast Radio Bursts along Two Sightlines:
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
New paper Thursday! ✨💫
Evidence for a Hot Galactic Halo around the Andromeda Galaxy Using Fast Radio Bursts along Two Sightlines:
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...
Evidence for a Hot Galactic Halo around the Andromeda Galaxy Using Fast Radio Bursts along Two Sightlines:
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...
Reposted by Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology
We are pleased to announce our discovery of #GW241011 and #GW241110
Both come from binary black holes where one black hole is much larger than the other. The larger black holes have large spin. Could these black holes have formed in a previous merger?
ligo.org/science-summ...
#O4IsHere 🔭🧪⚛️☄️
Both come from binary black holes where one black hole is much larger than the other. The larger black holes have large spin. Could these black holes have formed in a previous merger?
ligo.org/science-summ...
#O4IsHere 🔭🧪⚛️☄️
October 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
We are pleased to announce our discovery of #GW241011 and #GW241110
Both come from binary black holes where one black hole is much larger than the other. The larger black holes have large spin. Could these black holes have formed in a previous merger?
ligo.org/science-summ...
#O4IsHere 🔭🧪⚛️☄️
Both come from binary black holes where one black hole is much larger than the other. The larger black holes have large spin. Could these black holes have formed in a previous merger?
ligo.org/science-summ...
#O4IsHere 🔭🧪⚛️☄️
Graduate student Jordan O’Kelley was joined by Maura McLaughlin and Jason Ybarra at the annual College Autism Summit hosted by the College Autism Network in Pittsburgh, PA.
Great work, Jordan!
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Great work, Jordan!
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Graduate student Jordan O’Kelley was joined by Maura McLaughlin and Jason Ybarra at the annual College Autism Summit hosted by the College Autism Network in Pittsburgh, PA.
Great work, Jordan!
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Great work, Jordan!
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
WVUniverse presents "Mysterious, Marvelous Cryogeology" with Caitlin Ahrens, PhD. We’ll explore weird ice geology in the solar system.
"Mysterious, Marvelous Cryogeology" is free and open to all ages.
November 14, 2025
6:30 PM EST
For more information, please visit: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/10...
"Mysterious, Marvelous Cryogeology" is free and open to all ages.
November 14, 2025
6:30 PM EST
For more information, please visit: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/10...
October 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
WVUniverse presents "Mysterious, Marvelous Cryogeology" with Caitlin Ahrens, PhD. We’ll explore weird ice geology in the solar system.
"Mysterious, Marvelous Cryogeology" is free and open to all ages.
November 14, 2025
6:30 PM EST
For more information, please visit: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/10...
"Mysterious, Marvelous Cryogeology" is free and open to all ages.
November 14, 2025
6:30 PM EST
For more information, please visit: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/10...
Scientists know dark energy makes up ~ 70% of the universe & is responsible for the universe’s accelerating expansion. Beyond that, little about it is certain; WVU's Kevin Bandura is enhancing the calibration of telescopes that tell astronomers about dark energy.
📡🌠
gwac.wvu.edu/.../wvu-engi....
📡🌠
gwac.wvu.edu/.../wvu-engi....
October 17, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Scientists know dark energy makes up ~ 70% of the universe & is responsible for the universe’s accelerating expansion. Beyond that, little about it is certain; WVU's Kevin Bandura is enhancing the calibration of telescopes that tell astronomers about dark energy.
📡🌠
gwac.wvu.edu/.../wvu-engi....
📡🌠
gwac.wvu.edu/.../wvu-engi....
"Pulsars: Nature's Finest Clocks" will explore pulsars & include a fun trivia quiz/prizes! This special WVUniverse talk in the WVU Planetarium dome & will offer a sneak peek surprise. 😉 You don't want to miss it! Get your free tickets: www.ticketsource.com/booking/t-ya...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
"Pulsars: Nature's Finest Clocks" will explore pulsars & include a fun trivia quiz/prizes! This special WVUniverse talk in the WVU Planetarium dome & will offer a sneak peek surprise. 😉 You don't want to miss it! Get your free tickets: www.ticketsource.com/booking/t-ya...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
Reposted by Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology
In our latest #SETILive #podcast, @astrosanne.bsky.social details some of the characteristics of a white dwarf star that was found to be emitting a strange, repeated radio signal. Listen to the full episode: www.seti.org/outreach/set... 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
October 1, 2025 at 7:02 PM
In our latest #SETILive #podcast, @astrosanne.bsky.social details some of the characteristics of a white dwarf star that was found to be emitting a strange, repeated radio signal. Listen to the full episode: www.seti.org/outreach/set... 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
WVUniverse is back! "Pulsars: Nature's Finest Clocks" is free and open to all ages, but reservations are required as seating is limited and will likely fill quickly. Reserve your seats at:
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
Featuring Duncan Lorimer, FRS
October 17, 2025
6:30 p.m.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
Featuring Duncan Lorimer, FRS
October 17, 2025
6:30 p.m.
September 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
WVUniverse is back! "Pulsars: Nature's Finest Clocks" is free and open to all ages, but reservations are required as seating is limited and will likely fill quickly. Reserve your seats at:
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
Featuring Duncan Lorimer, FRS
October 17, 2025
6:30 p.m.
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
Featuring Duncan Lorimer, FRS
October 17, 2025
6:30 p.m.
GWAC's McLaughlin awarded NSF grant to lead development of new radio telescope under construction in NV 📡
"This award will offer WVU students the unique opportunity to play critical roles in the earliest science done with this extremely sensitive new telescope.”👏
More: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
"This award will offer WVU students the unique opportunity to play critical roles in the earliest science done with this extremely sensitive new telescope.”👏
More: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
September 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
GWAC's McLaughlin awarded NSF grant to lead development of new radio telescope under construction in NV 📡
"This award will offer WVU students the unique opportunity to play critical roles in the earliest science done with this extremely sensitive new telescope.”👏
More: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
"This award will offer WVU students the unique opportunity to play critical roles in the earliest science done with this extremely sensitive new telescope.”👏
More: gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/09...
Thursday! Free Screening of Small Town Universe--
Free, virtual screening of the award winning, feature length documentary Small Town Universe, 09/04, 7:30 pm EST!
To register, please visit kinema.com/events/Small... to get free tickets and the link for the screening and panel discussion.
Free, virtual screening of the award winning, feature length documentary Small Town Universe, 09/04, 7:30 pm EST!
To register, please visit kinema.com/events/Small... to get free tickets and the link for the screening and panel discussion.
September 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Thursday! Free Screening of Small Town Universe--
Free, virtual screening of the award winning, feature length documentary Small Town Universe, 09/04, 7:30 pm EST!
To register, please visit kinema.com/events/Small... to get free tickets and the link for the screening and panel discussion.
Free, virtual screening of the award winning, feature length documentary Small Town Universe, 09/04, 7:30 pm EST!
To register, please visit kinema.com/events/Small... to get free tickets and the link for the screening and panel discussion.
Bake Sale Alert!
Stop by White Hall, room 111 tomorrow for a tasty snack to get the long weekend started!
All proceeds benefit the WVU Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization.
Noon-2:00pm/until supplies last.
🧁🍰🎂🍪
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Stop by White Hall, room 111 tomorrow for a tasty snack to get the long weekend started!
All proceeds benefit the WVU Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization.
Noon-2:00pm/until supplies last.
🧁🍰🎂🍪
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
August 28, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Bake Sale Alert!
Stop by White Hall, room 111 tomorrow for a tasty snack to get the long weekend started!
All proceeds benefit the WVU Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization.
Noon-2:00pm/until supplies last.
🧁🍰🎂🍪
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Stop by White Hall, room 111 tomorrow for a tasty snack to get the long weekend started!
All proceeds benefit the WVU Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization.
Noon-2:00pm/until supplies last.
🧁🍰🎂🍪
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Congratulations to Abyss Halley, a first year doctoral student in WVU Physics and Astro & the Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology for being named a 2025 Ruby Fellowship Scholar. 🤩
We are so proud of Abyss!
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
We are so proud of Abyss!
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
August 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Congratulations to Abyss Halley, a first year doctoral student in WVU Physics and Astro & the Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology for being named a 2025 Ruby Fellowship Scholar. 🤩
We are so proud of Abyss!
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
We are so proud of Abyss!
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
@wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Emmy Nominated Director Katie Dellamaggiore and Rescued Media will generously sponsor a free, virtual screening of the award winning, feature length documentary Small Town Universe on Thursday, September 4th, 2025 at 7:30 pm EST!
youtu.be/NehqQY6rdj4?...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
youtu.be/NehqQY6rdj4?...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
Small Town Universe
Get tickets for the virtual screening of Small Town Universe
kinema.com
August 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Emmy Nominated Director Katie Dellamaggiore and Rescued Media will generously sponsor a free, virtual screening of the award winning, feature length documentary Small Town Universe on Thursday, September 4th, 2025 at 7:30 pm EST!
youtu.be/NehqQY6rdj4?...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
youtu.be/NehqQY6rdj4?...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social
We do things a little differently :) We decided to blend Plasma Research with our Astrophysics Research and offer a fully NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program for summer of 2025. Success!
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social @wvuphysastro.bsky.social
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social @wvuphysastro.bsky.social
August 14, 2025 at 9:29 PM
We do things a little differently :) We decided to blend Plasma Research with our Astrophysics Research and offer a fully NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program for summer of 2025. Success!
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social @wvuphysastro.bsky.social
gwac.wvu.edu/blog/2025/08...
@westvirginiau.bsky.social @wvuphysastro.bsky.social
Reposted by Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology
For folks interested in interstellar objects: There's a new preprint out searching for similar bodies using the latest @nanograv.bsky.social data release, led by @gwacwvu.bsky.social researchers Lankeswar Dey, Ross Jennings, Jackson Taylor, Joe Glaser, and Maura McLaughlin!
arxiv.org/abs/2507.19475
arxiv.org/abs/2507.19475
NANOGrav 15-year Data Set: Search for Gravitational Scattering of Pulsars by Free-Floating Objects in Interstellar Space
Free-floating objects (FFOs) in interstellar space$-$rogue planets, brown dwarfs, and large asteroids that are not gravitationally bound to any star$-$are expected to be ubiquitous throughout the Milk...
arxiv.org
July 30, 2025 at 7:18 PM
For folks interested in interstellar objects: There's a new preprint out searching for similar bodies using the latest @nanograv.bsky.social data release, led by @gwacwvu.bsky.social researchers Lankeswar Dey, Ross Jennings, Jackson Taylor, Joe Glaser, and Maura McLaughlin!
arxiv.org/abs/2507.19475
arxiv.org/abs/2507.19475