In 2011, a months-long blast of energy launched by an enormous black hole almost 11 billion years ago swept past Earth. Astronomers have zeroed in on the source of this ancient outburst.
Black holes range from modest objects formed when individual stars end their lives to behemoths billions of times more massive that rule the centers of galaxies.
Thanks to improved data analysis and a new operating mode, the GRB Monitor aboard NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is now 10 times better at catching the brief outbursts of high-energy light mysteriously produced above thunderstorms.
Astronomers using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have made the most accurate measurement of starlight in the universe and used it to establish the total amount of light from all of the stars that have ever shone.
Volume 8, Issue 11 - Dr. Eli Dwek and Dr. Neil Gehrels of Goddard, and Dr. Lynn Cominsky of
NASA’s Fermi and Swift missions have been named as fellows of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The election of an AAAS
fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.
Congratulations to new AAAS Fellows
11.30.2012
Dr. Eli Dwek and Dr. Neil Gehrels in have been named as Fellows of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Eli's citation
reads "for his distinguished contributions to the theory of the evolution
and nature of interstellar dust grains, including formation and destruction,
emission and absorption of light, and unified models of observations."
Neil's "for his leadership on the Swift, Compton, Integral, and future dark
energy missions."
The Astroparticle Physics Laboratory conducts research in cosmic ray and gamma ray high-energy astrophysics. Researchers investigate high-energy phenomena in the universe in terms of unified theories of fundamental interactions. The Laboratory conducts a broad range of space-based scientific studies of the origin, nature, and effect of cosmic rays. Researchers also observe gamma radiation that carries the signatures of physical processes at work throughout the universe. The birth and evolution of black holes and other compact objects is a key area of investigation. The Laboratory emphasizes the development of new detectors and instrumentation technologies.
General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Center Public Affairs office at 1.301.286.8955.
