Apr 18, 2016
Feature Guest: Ingrid Stairs
In February scientists announced
the first ever discovery of gravitational waves, tiny distortions
in the fabric of space-time predicted by Einstein exactly 100 years
ago. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory, or LIGO, made the historic detection by studying two
colliding black holes, but singularities aren’t the only source of
gravitational waves.
Here to tell us how pulsars, the lighthouses of the
galaxy, can be used to study gravitational waves and help us
understand the forces of our universe, today we’re joined at The
Star Spot by pulsar authority Ingrid Stairs
The Star Spot is Now on the Radio!
The The Star Spot podcast is now
The Star Spot podcast and radio show. That’s right. Your favourite
astronomy program is now travelling through space, specifically the
1280AM frequency. Our broadcaster, CJRU The Scope at Ryerson, is
now available on the radio dial, which means you can join us at The
Star Spot at 1280AM every Sunday 8PM and Tuesday 6PM Eastern
Time.
Current in Space
We know the late heavy bombardment period was critical to the
eventual emergence of life on Earth. But since Earth wasn't the
only planet that went through such an ordeal, Anuj explains
what that implies for life in the solar system. And Dave shares new
evidence of the effect of ancient supernova explosions on our
planet.
About Our Guest
Ingrid Stairs is
Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of British
Columbia. She received her doctoral degree from Princeton
university before undertaking her postdoctral fellowship at the
Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK. Professor Stairs received the
NSERC University FAculty Award as well as Princeton’s Joseph Henry
Award. She is a world authority on pulsars, the energetic remnants
of massive dead stars.