News

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.

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.

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.

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 University College of Arts and Sciences Cornell Ar

WCA's Alex Krolewski is awarded an AMTD Fellowship!

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

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

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 groups. 

The Supernova Foundation, which WCA member, Prof. Ghazal Geshnizjani is part of the leading team and a founding member, is now accepting applications for both new mentees and mentors.  

Astrophysicists release largest 3D map of the universe ever created

Astrophysicists have filled in 11 billion years in our picture of the universe with the release of a comprehensive analysis of the largest three-dimensional cosmic map ever created. 

“This is one of the most substantial advances in cosmology in the last decade,” said University of Waterloo professor Will Percival, a lead researcher on the work. 

A group of astronomers led by Dr Sesh Nadathur at the University of Portsmouth, and including WCA Director Will Percival, have spent the last 3 years studying large structures in the distribution of galaxies in the Universe to provide the most precise tests of dark energy and cosmic expansion yet.