Faculty

Renewing the Contract between Academia and Society

February 14, 2018

"It is easy for professors to hide deep inside the trenches of their expertise—bunkers that protect them from criticism by “non-experts” and allow them to promote their egos without supervision. True, academic freedom is a precious commodity that should be held sacred in order to enable discovery of the truth in the face of sociological forces and ideological dogma."

Read More: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/renewing-the-contract-between-academia-and-society/

Research Integrity Resources Initiative

February 13, 2018

The Research Integrity Resources Initiative was created to provide FAS researchers with proactive tools to support excellence in the stewardship of strong research data. Some of these resources are provided to make the FAS community aware of offices, policies, training, and programs that are currently available across Harvard University.

In addition, this initiative also provides resources to manage conflict, communication, and/or behavioral concerns to avoid misunderstandings that may lead to allegations of research misconduct and to...

Maciek Wielgus presents at the Harvard Center for Astrophysics Astronomy Colloquium Thursday afternoon. KAI R. MCNAMEE

Astronomers Discuss Black Holes, Cosmic Radiation at Luncheon

February 5, 2018

"About a hundred astronomers and visiting scholars gathered in the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics’s Phillips Auditorium to hear about the latest advancements in astrophysics at a Thursday luncheon hosted by the Harvard-based Institute for Theory and Computation."

Harvard Crimson: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/2/2/astrophysics-luncheon-talk/

Weekend Special: "Are We Alone in the Universe?"

January 2, 2018

"Are we alone? This is surely a question each and every one of us has asked, at some point in our lives. And while most of us go no further than simply putting this question out there, there are people who feel compelled to devote time and effort in a bid to find the answer. Today our guest on Sputnik's Weekend Special is just such a man - Abraham Loeb, Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University and an adviser to the Breakthrough Listen project."

Listen to Radio Interview: ... Read more about Weekend Special: "Are We Alone in the Universe?"

This artist's concept depicts the interstellar visitor known as 'Oumuamua as a battered metallic space rock. Some astronomers, however, speculate that 'Oumuamua may be something far stranger. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser

Alien Probe or Galactic Driftwood? SETI Tunes In to 'Oumuamua

December 13, 2017

"It’s a long shot, but scientists are about to listen very closely for radio signals from our solar system’s first known interstellar visitor."
"Ever since its discovery in mid-October as it passed by Earth already outbound from our solar system, the mysterious object dubbed ‘Oumuamua (Hawaiian for “first messenger”) has left scientists utterly perplexed."

Press Coverage:

Scientific American: ...

Putnam Avenue Upper School eighth-graders Liam Mahari (left) and Viviany Barbosa Brito work with project director Patricia Udomprasert during a hands-on lab.

Harvard’s ThinkSpace brings hard science to Cambridge grade schools

November 15, 2017

"It’s impossible to miss when the seasons change. But do most people understand the science behind those changes? According to decades-old research by astronomers and educators at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), probably not."

RUIYI LI Professor Avi Loeb, chair of the Astronomy Department at Harvard, founded the Black Hole Initiative.

Breakthrough Star Shot

November 6, 2017

"Somewhere in the neighborhood of the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri—4.25 light years from Cambridge—a small, hyper-reflective spacecraft will home in on an unfamiliar planet." Full article in the Harvard Crimson

Cosmic alchemy: Colliding neutron stars show us how the universe creates gold

October 24, 2017

For thousands of years, humans have searched for a way to turn matter into gold. Ancient alchemists considered this precious metal to be the highest form of matter. As human knowledge advanced, the mystical aspects of alchemy gave way to the sciences we know today. And yet, with all our advances in science and technology, the origin story of gold remained unknown. Until now.

Read Full Article: The Conversation, by Duncan Brown, Syracuse University and Edo Berger, Harvard University