'Catching Einstein's Waves’ Topic for Oct. 7 Science Unwrapped

In his 1916 Theory of General Relativity, famed physicist Albert Einstein described gravitational waves that emanate from space as “ripples in space-time.” He predicted that mass moves through space creating these mysterious currents much as a boat creates waves as it moves through water.

Friday, Oct. 7, USU’s Science Unwrapped welcomes physicist Gabriela González, who will discuss the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory or “LIGO,” a multi-university experiment to search for gravitational waves. González is the national spokesperson for the National Science Foundation-funded effort, which includes facilities at Washington’s Hanford Observatory and an observatory in Livingston, La.

The presentation, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center Emert Auditorium, Room 130, on the USU campus, is free and open to all ages.

“Einstein predicted gravitational waves almost a century ago, but they’ve never been directly observed,” says González, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Louisiana State University. “But the LIGO detectors now being built should be able to detect many events per year. With these observations, we’ll have a completely new kind of telescope to tell us about black holes and the life and death of stars."

Refreshments and hands-on activities featuring lasers, astrophysics, smartphone physics and space weather follow González’s talk. Activities also include a screening of the 20-minute short film, “Einstein’s Cosmic Messengers.”

For more information, call 435-797-3517, visit the Science Unwrapped website or view the Science Unwrapped at USU Facebook page.

USU College of Science

Contact: Shane Larson, 435-797-8838, s.larson@usu.edu

Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu