Riding Some Gravitational Waves (UMN Astounding Astrophysics, Prof. Michael Coughlin)

The third lecture in the Astounding Astrophysics 2025 Summer lecture series, delivered 7/22 by Professor Patrick Kelly Prof. Michael Coughlin is currently a McKnight Land-Grant Professor and Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on multi-messenger astronomy, working to bridge the gap between gravitational-wave and observational astronomers working in the electromagnetic regime. In this talk, he will explain how gravitational waves let us hear the universe—echoes from cosmic collisions like merging black holes and neutron stars. But what happens when we can see them too? We will explore how astronomers hunt for flashes of light—optical counterparts—that accompany these spacetime ripples. Discover how combining telescopes and gravitational wave detectors is unlocking new secrets about the universe, from the origins of heavy elements to the expansion of space itself. To help University of Minnesota physicists keep making advances in science and offering these outreach opportunities, please visit https://z.umn.edu/Support_Physics