Research

Compact objects (black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs) are the final fates of stars, and are amongst the most extreme objects in the known universe, where the laws of physics are pushed to their limits. For instance, black holes, with their immense gravitational pull, challenge our understanding of space and time and are key

Gravity is the weakest of the fundamental forces of nature, but nonetheless plays a critically important role in shaping the formation and evolution of the universe. Einstein’s general theory of relativity was originally introduced in order to reconcile Newton’s gravity with the principles of special relativity, and was quickly found to explain discrepancies in the

There is strong evidence that more than 80% of all the matter in the universe is not composed of familiar atoms and molecules, and does not scatter, absorb, or emit light at any detectable level. This is known only because of its gravitational effects on the visible constituents of the universe. Scientists have long labeled

All galaxies are made from stars but only the Milky Way’s stars are close, and hence bright enough, for astronomers to study them in great detail, both individually and in large samples. Collectively, stars hold the key to understanding their galaxy’s formation, evolution, and current structure and composition. Individually, they provide information on how stars

With the emergence of the first stars, the universe was lit up for the first time. This ended the cosmic dark age, a period which began around 300 million years after the Big Bang and lasted for 300-500 million years thereafter. During this time before the first stars, the universe was composed of dark matter,

Extragalactic astrophysics studies the galaxies and the space in between galaxies beyond our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Large surveys have shown that the distribution of galaxies in the universe is far from random, but rather forms a cosmic web, composed of filaments of clustered galaxies stretched out across the universe and separated by giant

The study of exoplanets, or planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, is key to understanding the physics of planet formation and evolution as well as our own cosmic origins. Since the discovery of the first exoplanets in the 1990s, astronomers have found thousands of planets outside our solar system. It has been found that

Cosmology is the scientific field dedicated to understanding the origin, evolution, and fate of the universe. It explores the fundamental questions surrounding space, time, matter, and energy on a cosmic scale. Researchers investigate the Big Bang theory, studying the early moments of the universe and the formation of galaxies and stars. Through observations, theoretical models,