[Applause] [Music]
all right so here’s the surprise and
all right so here’s the surprise and late edition Gregg Hallinan is the
late edition Gregg Hallinan is the
late edition Gregg Hallinan is the assistant professor of astronomy at the
assistant professor of astronomy at the
assistant professor of astronomy at the California Institute Institute of
California Institute Institute of
California Institute Institute of Technology and his research group
Technology and his research group
Technology and his research group specializes in the construction of novel
specializes in the construction of novel
specializes in the construction of novel instruments and telescopes to tackle
instruments and telescopes to tackle
instruments and telescopes to tackle some of the big questions at the
some of the big questions at the
some of the big questions at the forefront of astrophysics and I’m not
forefront of astrophysics and I’m not
forefront of astrophysics and I’m not going to talk too much about it so I
going to talk too much about it so I
going to talk too much about it so I really want to get as much time as we
really want to get as much time as we
really want to get as much time as we can with him but let’s tell you this
can with him but let’s tell you this
can with him but let’s tell you this this August Greg and his team heard
this August Greg and his team heard
this August Greg and his team heard something they’d like to say go bump in
something they’d like to say go bump in
something they’d like to say go bump in the night and we’re really honored and
the night and we’re really honored and
the night and we’re really honored and thrilled to have Greg show up to tell
thrilled to have Greg show up to tell
thrilled to have Greg show up to tell you about this extraordinary discovery
you about this extraordinary discovery
you about this extraordinary discovery he is one of the most currently in
he is one of the most currently in
he is one of the most currently in demand scientists given given this new
demand scientists given given this new
demand scientists given given this new event and because it’s such a late
event and because it’s such a late
event and because it’s such a late addition we didn’t ask Greg to craft a
addition we didn’t ask Greg to craft a
addition we didn’t ask Greg to craft a talk he’s flying all over and talking
talk he’s flying all over and talking
talk he’s flying all over and talking everywhere he was at MIT yesterday but
everywhere he was at MIT yesterday but
everywhere he was at MIT yesterday but we wanted to get him out here and we’re
we wanted to get him out here and we’re
we wanted to get him out here and we’re just gonna have a bit of a conversation
just gonna have a bit of a conversation
just gonna have a bit of a conversation so please welcome Greg Holloman my mic
so please welcome Greg Holloman my mic
so please welcome Greg Holloman my mic on fantastic so big question what
on fantastic so big question what
on fantastic so big question what happened on August 17 2017 okay
happened on August 17 2017 okay
happened on August 17 2017 okay on that date gravitational wave detector
on that date gravitational wave detector
on that date gravitational wave detector has detected a new signal for the first
has detected a new signal for the first
has detected a new signal for the first time the image shows three gravitational
time the image shows three gravitational
time the image shows three gravitational wave detectors the LIGO detectors in
wave detectors the LIGO detectors in
wave detectors the LIGO detectors in Hanford Washington the lack of detector
Hanford Washington the lack of detector
Hanford Washington the lack of detector in Livingston Louisiana and then the
in Livingston Louisiana and then the
in Livingston Louisiana and then the Verger detector initially these are
Verger detector initially these are
Verger detector initially these are three of the most sensitive instruments
three of the most sensitive instruments
three of the most sensitive instruments ever built the cost hundreds millions of
ever built the cost hundreds millions of
ever built the cost hundreds millions of dollars and they detect gravitational
dollars and they detect gravitational
dollars and they detect gravitational waves the very ripple in the fabric of
waves the very ripple in the fabric of
waves the very ripple in the fabric of space-time they’re so sensitive they can
space-time they’re so sensitive they can
space-time they’re so sensitive they can detect the contraction and expansion of
detect the contraction and expansion of
detect the contraction and expansion of the Earth’s by the width of a single
the Earth’s by the width of a single
the Earth’s by the width of a single atom due to these ripples in space-time
atom due to these ripples in space-time
atom due to these ripples in space-time and on August 17th they detected for the
and on August 17th they detected for the
and on August 17th they detected for the first time the cosmic collision of two
first time the cosmic collision of two
first time the cosmic collision of two neutron stars these are the two
neutron stars these are the two
neutron stars these are the two ultra-dense remnants of two giant stars
ultra-dense remnants of two giant stars
ultra-dense remnants of two giant stars that exploded billions of years ago
that exploded billions of years ago
that exploded billions of years ago since that time they have aspired each
since that time they have aspired each
since that time they have aspired each other
other
other getting ever closer and on August 17th
getting ever closer and on August 17th
getting ever closer and on August 17th we detected their collision what was
we detected their collision what was
we detected their collision what was very important about this was that
very important about this was that
very important about this was that collision produced an explosion a
collision produced an explosion a
collision produced an explosion a fireball which was the first time
fireball which was the first time
fireball which was the first time astronomers could actually detect
astronomers could actually detect
astronomers could actually detect signals with conventional normal
signals with conventional normal
signals with conventional normal telescopes I have a quick video that
telescopes I have a quick video that
telescopes I have a quick video that shows the final death spiral of this
shows the final death spiral of this
shows the final death spiral of this event and the explosion so this video
event and the explosion so this video
event and the explosion so this video made by NASA shows the final death
made by NASA shows the final death
made by NASA shows the final death spiral and as it gets close you get
spiral and as it gets close you get
spiral and as it gets close you get closer and closer the gravitational
closer and closer the gravitational
closer and closer the gravitational waves get stronger and stronger before
waves get stronger and stronger before
waves get stronger and stronger before they collide in a massive explosion you
they collide in a massive explosion you
they collide in a massive explosion you have this fireball that we see in
have this fireball that we see in
have this fireball that we see in optical and infrared and you have an
optical and infrared and you have an
optical and infrared and you have an ultra relativistic jet that we can see
ultra relativistic jet that we can see
ultra relativistic jet that we can see with gamma-ray telescopes and x-ray
with gamma-ray telescopes and x-ray
with gamma-ray telescopes and x-ray telescopes and radio telescopes so when
telescopes and radio telescopes so when
telescopes and radio telescopes so when astronomers got the email saying there’s
astronomers got the email saying there’s
astronomers got the email saying there’s been an event we all knew was go time
been an event we all knew was go time
been an event we all knew was go time because it was gonna be like that’s
because it was gonna be like that’s
because it was gonna be like that’s incredible
incredible
incredible alright so when the when the waves were
alright so when the when the waves were
alright so when the when the waves were first detected what happened next well
first detected what happened next well
first detected what happened next well for me personally what normally happens
for me personally what normally happens
for me personally what normally happens you get an email from LIGO saying
you get an email from LIGO saying
you get an email from LIGO saying there’s been an event okay and that goes
there’s been an event okay and that goes
there’s been an event okay and that goes out to all the astronomers were a wider
out to all the astronomers were a wider
out to all the astronomers were a wider involved so the other telescopes trained
involved so the other telescopes trained
involved so the other telescopes trained as fast as they can for me personally I
as fast as they can for me personally I
as fast as they can for me personally I made a fatal miscalculation on August 17
made a fatal miscalculation on August 17
made a fatal miscalculation on August 17 there was one week left before LIGO
there was one week left before LIGO
there was one week left before LIGO shuts down for a year for upgrades it
shuts down for a year for upgrades it
shuts down for a year for upgrades it had been operating for nine months with
had been operating for nine months with
had been operating for nine months with no detection so the one weeks ago I
no detection so the one weeks ago I
no detection so the one weeks ago I thought what are the odds would be a
thought what are the odds would be a
thought what are the odds would be a detection of the last week so my wife
detection of the last week so my wife
detection of the last week so my wife and I took our baby daughter to Ireland
and I took our baby daughter to Ireland
and I took our baby daughter to Ireland where I’m from to meet her extended
where I’m from to meet her extended
where I’m from to meet her extended family for the first time so when I got
family for the first time so when I got
family for the first time so when I got the email saying it’s go time
the email saying it’s go time
the email saying it’s go time I was standing in a grocery store in the
I was standing in a grocery store in the
I was standing in a grocery store in the North West of Ireland
North West of Ireland
North West of Ireland holding a very jet like baby and I got
holding a very jet like baby and I got
holding a very jet like baby and I got this email I’m like oh wow and then I’m
this email I’m like oh wow and then I’m
this email I’m like oh wow and then I’m like oh no I’m four miles from where I
like oh no I’m four miles from where I
like oh no I’m four miles from where I need to be and then my phone starts
need to be and then my phone starts
need to be and then my phone starts ringing and my colleagues man see cars
ringing and my colleagues man see cars
ringing and my colleagues man see cars knew all the Caltech and kunal newly
knew all the Caltech and kunal newly
knew all the Caltech and kunal newly recalling me to say what do we do what
recalling me to say what do we do what
recalling me to say what do we do what do we do let’s get going so like
do we do let’s get going so like
do we do let’s get going so like everybody like every other astronomer
everybody like every other astronomer
everybody like every other astronomer worldwide
worldwide
worldwide we began planning and that was the end
we began planning and that was the end
we began planning and that was the end of the vacation obviously so how did you
of the vacation obviously so how did you
of the vacation obviously so how did you and other scientists know where to look
and other scientists know where to look
and other scientists know where to look it’s good question
it’s good question
it’s good question so LIGO and Virgo told us the event
so LIGO and Virgo told us the event
so LIGO and Virgo told us the event happened in an area of the sky about 30
happened in an area of the sky about 30
happened in an area of the sky about 30 square degrees that’s still a pretty big
square degrees that’s still a pretty big
square degrees that’s still a pretty big area about a hundred times the largeness
area about a hundred times the largeness
area about a hundred times the largeness than the earth the full moon so what
than the earth the full moon so what
than the earth the full moon so what astronomers did was look in that area of
astronomers did was look in that area of
astronomers did was look in that area of the sky and it turns out in that area
the sky and it turns out in that area
the sky and it turns out in that area were about 49 galaxies that could have
were about 49 galaxies that could have
were about 49 galaxies that could have or could be the other side of the merger
or could be the other side of the merger
or could be the other side of the merger so we began pointing our telescopes one
so we began pointing our telescopes one
so we began pointing our telescopes one by one to every galaxy which and finally
by one to every galaxy which and finally
by one to every galaxy which and finally we zoomed it in the right one NGC for
we zoomed it in the right one NGC for
we zoomed it in the right one NGC for 993 at a distance of 130 million
993 at a distance of 130 million
993 at a distance of 130 million light-years away and here is an image on
light-years away and here is an image on
light-years away and here is an image on the left you see a Hubble Space
the left you see a Hubble Space
the left you see a Hubble Space Telescope image from April 2017 before
Telescope image from April 2017 before
Telescope image from April 2017 before the detection on the rice highlighted by
the detection on the rice highlighted by
the detection on the rice highlighted by the arrow is the first detection of the
the arrow is the first detection of the
the arrow is the first detection of the explosion from astronomers using a swab
explosion from astronomers using a swab
explosion from astronomers using a swab telescope of Carnegie observatories when
telescope of Carnegie observatories when
telescope of Carnegie observatories when first detected it had the light of a
first detected it had the light of a
first detected it had the light of a billion suns and afterwards there was
billion suns and afterwards there was
billion suns and afterwards there was there was a UV radiation there was
there was a UV radiation there was
there was a UV radiation there was infrared x-rays and then from it– from
infrared x-rays and then from it– from
infrared x-rays and then from it– from my group there was radio waves fantastic
my group there was radio waves fantastic
my group there was radio waves fantastic so all right so tell us why is this such
so all right so tell us why is this such
so all right so tell us why is this such an important event what does it mean for
an important event what does it mean for
an important event what does it mean for us good question
us good question
us good question so the first thing and this is the first
so the first thing and this is the first
so the first thing and this is the first time we can actually detect
time we can actually detect
time we can actually detect gravitational waves and lie
gravitational waves and lie
gravitational waves and lie simultaneously from an event it’s kind
simultaneously from an event it’s kind
simultaneously from an event it’s kind of like we’re seeing and hearing the
of like we’re seeing and hearing the
of like we’re seeing and hearing the violet universe for the first time
violet universe for the first time
violet universe for the first time gravitational waves tell you about the
gravitational waves tell you about the
gravitational waves tell you about the dense environment where the merger
dense environment where the merger
dense environment where the merger happens where you can’t see with
happens where you can’t see with
happens where you can’t see with telescopes and then with our telescopes
telescopes and then with our telescopes
telescopes and then with our telescopes we can see the explosion learn what
we can see the explosion learn what
we can see the explosion learn what happened in the explosion how much
happened in the explosion how much
happened in the explosion how much energy was there and what elements were
energy was there and what elements were
energy was there and what elements were created there the second I think almost
created there the second I think almost
created there the second I think almost more exciting thing is that it turns out
more exciting thing is that it turns out
more exciting thing is that it turns out in this explosion there were 10,000
in this explosion there were 10,000
in this explosion there were 10,000 earth masses of heavy elements created
earth masses of heavy elements created
earth masses of heavy elements created that included two hundred masses worth
that included two hundred masses worth
that included two hundred masses worth of gold and for those you’re interested
of gold and for those you’re interested
of gold and for those you’re interested I checked the price of gold this morning
I checked the price of gold this morning
I checked the price of gold this morning that is fifteen non-alien dollars that’s
that is fifteen non-alien dollars that’s
that is fifteen non-alien dollars that’s 50 with 30 zeros afterwards there were
50 with 30 zeros afterwards there were
50 with 30 zeros afterwards there were five hundred earth masses of platinum
five hundred earth masses of platinum
five hundred earth masses of platinum created so to bring it all home if
created so to bring it all home if
created so to bring it all home if you’re wearing a ring in your finger
you’re wearing a ring in your finger
you’re wearing a ring in your finger that is gold or
that is gold or
that is gold or or silver it turns out that method was
or silver it turns out that method was
or silver it turns out that method was created in the exact kind of same
created in the exact kind of same
created in the exact kind of same explosion as this billions of years ago
explosion as this billions of years ago
explosion as this billions of years ago before the earth was formed so you’re
before the earth was formed so you’re
before the earth was formed so you’re wearing a bit of you just are marriage
wearing a bit of you just are marriage
wearing a bit of you just are marriage on your hand that’s incredible
on your hand that’s incredible
on your hand that’s incredible alright so what do we learn from your
alright so what do we learn from your
alright so what do we learn from your team’s discovery so my team we
team’s discovery so my team we
team’s discovery so my team we discovered the radio waves so when we
discovered the radio waves so when we
discovered the radio waves so when we have the email saying it’s go time
have the email saying it’s go time
have the email saying it’s go time we began training all the radio
we began training all the radio
we began training all the radio telescopes we could worldwide towards
telescopes we could worldwide towards
telescopes we could worldwide towards the location of the of the signal and it
the location of the of the signal and it
the location of the of the signal and it turns out we finally made the discovery
turns out we finally made the discovery
turns out we finally made the discovery with the Very Large Array which is the
with the Very Large Array which is the
with the Very Large Array which is the biggest most sensitive radio telescope
biggest most sensitive radio telescope
biggest most sensitive radio telescope on the planet it’s in New Mexico but
on the planet it’s in New Mexico but
on the planet it’s in New Mexico but it’s actually managed by the National
it’s actually managed by the National
it’s actually managed by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory with
Radio Astronomy Observatory with
Radio Astronomy Observatory with headquarters right here in
headquarters right here in
headquarters right here in Charlottesville what you think is kind
Charlottesville what you think is kind
Charlottesville what you think is kind of cool
of cool
of cool so on the left is an optical image of
so on the left is an optical image of
so on the left is an optical image of this galaxy where you can see with the
this galaxy where you can see with the
this galaxy where you can see with the arrow again you can see the location of
arrow again you can see the location of
arrow again you can see the location of the explosion on the right we have if
the explosion on the right we have if
the explosion on the right we have if you had radio eyes we have the radio
you had radio eyes we have the radio
you had radio eyes we have the radio discovery of this afterglow and over the
discovery of this afterglow and over the
discovery of this afterglow and over the following weeks we see we saw getting
following weeks we see we saw getting
following weeks we see we saw getting brighter and brighter and that’s very
brighter and brighter and that’s very
brighter and brighter and that’s very important while everything else is
important while everything else is
important while everything else is fading away the fireball is getting
fading away the fireball is getting
fading away the fireball is getting bigger and the radio is getting brighter
bigger and the radio is getting brighter
bigger and the radio is getting brighter and we’re gonna learn so much we’re
and we’re gonna learn so much we’re
and we’re gonna learn so much we’re gonna learn about the energy of the
gonna learn about the energy of the
gonna learn about the energy of the explosion we’re gonna learn was there a
explosion we’re gonna learn was there a
explosion we’re gonna learn was there a jet formed we’re gonna learn what kind
jet formed we’re gonna learn what kind
jet formed we’re gonna learn what kind of environments do the explosion happen
of environments do the explosion happen
of environments do the explosion happen will they be stars form there in the
will they be stars form there in the
will they be stars form there in the future and planets formed and will the
future and planets formed and will the
future and planets formed and will the metals form of this merger be part of
metals form of this merger be part of
metals form of this merger be part of the the formation of those planets so
the the formation of those planets so
the the formation of those planets so we’re gonna learn an awful lot in the
we’re gonna learn an awful lot in the
we’re gonna learn an awful lot in the next year or so I hope that’s
next year or so I hope that’s
next year or so I hope that’s fascinating
fascinating
fascinating alright so you told me something when we
alright so you told me something when we
alright so you told me something when we first talked two days ago about how we
first talked two days ago about how we
first talked two days ago about how we you actually combined all of the power
you actually combined all of the power
you actually combined all of the power of these radio telescopes into something
of these radio telescopes into something
of these radio telescopes into something that assimilates an earth-sized
that assimilates an earth-sized
that assimilates an earth-sized telescope can you explain that a little
telescope can you explain that a little
telescope can you explain that a little bit sure so we use a very cool technique
bit sure so we use a very cool technique
bit sure so we use a very cool technique called very long baseline interferometry
called very long baseline interferometry
called very long baseline interferometry and that involves combining multiple
and that involves combining multiple
and that involves combining multiple telescopes across the globe to create a
telescopes across the globe to create a
telescopes across the globe to create a mega telescope an earth-sized telescope
mega telescope an earth-sized telescope
mega telescope an earth-sized telescope so here actually is a picture of some of
so here actually is a picture of some of
so here actually is a picture of some of the telescopes we’re using 38 telescopes
the telescopes we’re using 38 telescopes
the telescopes we’re using 38 telescopes across the continental US and Beyond
across the continental US and Beyond
across the continental US and Beyond including the largest single steerable
including the largest single steerable
including the largest single steerable dish in the world in Green Bank West
dish in the world in Green Bank West
dish in the world in Green Bank West Virginia and we combined into this mega
Virginia and we combined into this mega
Virginia and we combined into this mega telescope and why do we do that because
telescope and why do we do that because
telescope and why do we do that because it’s more sensitive but also because
it’s more sensitive but also because
it’s more sensitive but also because it’s so large that
it’s so large that
it’s so large that it has incredible spatial resolution
it has incredible spatial resolution
it has incredible spatial resolution this telescope has resolution much
this telescope has resolution much
this telescope has resolution much better than Hubble Space Telescope and
better than Hubble Space Telescope and
better than Hubble Space Telescope and it can actually resolve this fireball
it can actually resolve this fireball
it can actually resolve this fireball this explosion so we’re hoping it either
this explosion so we’re hoping it either
this explosion so we’re hoping it either this month or in the coming months we’d
this month or in the coming months we’d
this month or in the coming months we’d be able to provide the very first
be able to provide the very first
be able to provide the very first snapshot image of a new two star merger
snapshot image of a new two star merger
snapshot image of a new two star merger that’s incredible
that’s incredible
that’s incredible all right so let’s go back to this thing
all right so let’s go back to this thing
all right so let’s go back to this thing about August 17th from what I understand
about August 17th from what I understand
about August 17th from what I understand these events they could take a long time
these events they could take a long time
these events they could take a long time to get to us right so when you say it
to get to us right so when you say it
to get to us right so when you say it happened on August 17th the question in
happened on August 17th the question in
happened on August 17th the question in my mind is is that actually the day it
my mind is is that actually the day it
my mind is is that actually the day it happened or when did these stars collide
happened or when did these stars collide
happened or when did these stars collide right so that’s actually when the
right so that’s actually when the
right so that’s actually when the gravitational waves and lice got here
gravitational waves and lice got here
gravitational waves and lice got here okay they’ve been traveling at the speed
okay they’ve been traveling at the speed
okay they’ve been traveling at the speed of light since the merger the speed of
of light since the merger the speed of
of light since the merger the speed of light is about 300,000 kilometers per
light is about 300,000 kilometers per
light is about 300,000 kilometers per second it took 130 million years to get
second it took 130 million years to get
second it took 130 million years to get here and that’s actually still a
here and that’s actually still a
here and that’s actually still a relatively nearby galaxy space is big
relatively nearby galaxy space is big
relatively nearby galaxy space is big almost harder to understand than
almost harder to understand than
almost harder to understand than crypto-currency so what is the future
crypto-currency so what is the future
crypto-currency so what is the future hold like what what’s next so I
hold like what what’s next so I
hold like what what’s next so I mentioned LIGO getting shut down for
mentioned LIGO getting shut down for
mentioned LIGO getting shut down for upgrades it’s gonna come back online
upgrades it’s gonna come back online
upgrades it’s gonna come back online it’s gonna be bigger and better and much
it’s gonna be bigger and better and much
it’s gonna be bigger and better and much more sensitive so probably when it comes
more sensitive so probably when it comes
more sensitive so probably when it comes back online a year from now we start
back online a year from now we start
back online a year from now we start seeing these events on a monthly basis
seeing these events on a monthly basis
seeing these events on a monthly basis so we learn a lot more we learn you know
so we learn a lot more we learn you know
so we learn a lot more we learn you know is it really where all the heavy metals
is it really where all the heavy metals
is it really where all the heavy metals come from we find closer events and
come from we find closer events and
come from we find closer events and eventually when LIGO goes to another set
eventually when LIGO goes to another set
eventually when LIGO goes to another set of upgrades we can see directly what
of upgrades we can see directly what
of upgrades we can see directly what happens afterwards do those usual stars
happens afterwards do those usual stars
happens afterwards do those usual stars form black holes when they collide and
form black holes when they collide and
form black holes when they collide and you’re also gonna see a lot of really
you’re also gonna see a lot of really
you’re also gonna see a lot of really tired astronomers because this event I
tired astronomers because this event I
tired astronomers because this event I haven’t slept for two months after
haven’t slept for two months after
haven’t slept for two months after having in a monthly basis I’m done
having in a monthly basis I’m done
having in a monthly basis I’m done alright last question because it’s
alright last question because it’s
alright last question because it’s probably on everybody’s mind if this
probably on everybody’s mind if this
probably on everybody’s mind if this happened 130 million years ago and just
happened 130 million years ago and just
happened 130 million years ago and just got here what are the odds that
got here what are the odds that
got here what are the odds that something like this actually happened
something like this actually happened
something like this actually happened you know another 50 million years ago
you know another 50 million years ago
you know another 50 million years ago somewhere a little closer and we’re sort
somewhere a little closer and we’re sort
somewhere a little closer and we’re sort of a day away from being obliterated so
of a day away from being obliterated so
of a day away from being obliterated so if one happened very nearby it could
if one happened very nearby it could
if one happened very nearby it could pose a threat in fact if it was one
pose a threat in fact if it was one
pose a threat in fact if it was one happening nearby or the jet pointed
happening nearby or the jet pointed
happening nearby or the jet pointed right at us it could actually take away
right at us it could actually take away
right at us it could actually take away the ozone layer and some theories
the ozone layer and some theories
the ozone layer and some theories suggest that maybe
suggest that maybe
suggest that maybe mass extinction in the past might have
mass extinction in the past might have
mass extinction in the past might have been associated with an event like this
been associated with an event like this
been associated with an event like this but we know the solar neighborhood
but we know the solar neighborhood
but we know the solar neighborhood pretty well and would have to be very
pretty well and would have to be very
pretty well and would have to be very nearby so you can all relax it’s not
nearby so you can all relax it’s not
nearby so you can all relax it’s not gonna happen I think I don’t think
gonna happen I think I don’t think
gonna happen I think I don’t think there’s any chance of us being you know
there’s any chance of us being you know
there’s any chance of us being you know wiped out anytime soon
wiped out anytime soon
wiped out anytime soon fantastic all right well thank you so
fantastic all right well thank you so
fantastic all right well thank you so much thank you
”
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