News

Monday, June 7, 2021

Modeling the mysteries of the universe, closer to home

At first glance, astrophysics may not seem to have much in common with tracking and predicting the spread of a global virus. But to Professor Niayesh Afshordi, the link was clear – even early last year as our collective reaction to COVID-19 played out in real time.

Monday, May 17, 2021

DESI launches five-year quest to understand the universe

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), an international collaboration aiming to unravel the mystery of dark energy and fill in our 3D map of the universe, officially began on May 17.

There is a pattern printed on the fabric of spacetime.

Each piece of the pattern looks, in two dimensions, like a circle surrounded by a ring – as if some cosmic hand had thrown pebbles into the dense early universe, creating splash-points and ripples – then suddenly froze the pond.

Friday, April 9, 2021

The origin of water on planets in our universe

Water is essential for life as we know it – water makes up around 70% of the human body, covers about 70% of the planet Earth, has been found in the far reaches of our universe, and is at the centre of our search for habitable planets around other stars.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Black hole breakthrough: New images show magnetic fields around M87*

The black hole at the centre of the M87 galaxy is like a giant fire-breathing dragon that spews enormous jets of energetic particles at near light speeds across some 5,000 light years of space.

A new view of this black hole in polarized light, released today by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, will help astrophysicists understand just how those jets are launched by this monstrous black hole.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Canadian astronomers to see how the universe formed with help of new $4.9 million grant

A team of Canadian researchers led by University of Waterloo professor Michel Fich have been awarded $4.9 million in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to build a next generation telescope.

Friday, January 8, 2021

Event Horizon Telescope team recognized for outstanding group achievement

Congratulations to the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) team, including Professor Avery Broderick, for being honoured with the Royal Astronomical Society’s Group Award today! This award recognizes outstanding achievement by a large consortium within astronomy.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Ground broken in Chile for alum-backed telescope

Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics Professor Michel Fich is the Canadian lead for the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope. Ground has been broken at the site of the build in Chile. Read full article: Ground broken in Chile for alum-backed telescope | Cornell Univer

Friday, October 16, 2020

WCA's Alex Krolewski is awarded fellowship

WCA's Alex Krolewski is awarded an AMTD Fellowship!

Read more: https://uwaterloo.ca/stories/four-brilliant-researchers-join-waterloo-fellowships

Friday, September 18, 2020

WCA Professor Michel Fich's project receives a generous donation

Artist rendition of Fred Young telescope

The main donor, Fred Young, has agreed to have the CCAT-prime telescope after him. Read more:

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/09/breakthrough-telescope-chile-renamed-benefactor-alum

Friday, August 21, 2020

WCA Researcher recieves award

July 1 – December 31, 2022, The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. Professor Ghazal Geshnizjani and her co-organizers were recently awarded $250,000 CAD to run the program as well an additional $100,000 CAD to support the participation of women and underrepresented