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Graphic showing pulsar light traveling to Earth amid a sea of gravitational waves.
Physics

Oregon State leading $17M effort to understand universe via low-frequency gravitational waves

Funded by the NSF as a Physics Frontiers Center, the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves, or NANOGrav, research group at OSU operates under the direction of Xavier Siemens, professor of physics.

Planetary geologist and OSU alumna Briony Horgan in front of an image of the Perseverance rover.
Alumni and Friends

Oregon State alum plays integral role in Perseverance landing

2005 physics alumna and planetary geologist Briony Horgan's research was key to determining the location on Mars for the Perseverance rover to explore. Explaining the challenge her team faced, she said, "“If we had to choose just one spot on Earth to gather all the data about the entire history of the planet — well, where would you go?”

Graphic showing pulsar light traveling to Earth amid a sea of gravitational waves.
News

Gravitational wave search finds hopeful new clue

An international team, which includes Oregon State graduate and undergraduate students, has gotten closer than ever before to detecting evidence of supermassive black holes.

Xavier Siemens standing outside Memorial Union brick walkway
Faculty and Staff

New physics professor to significantly expand astrophysics program

The College of Science welcomes renowned astrophysicist Xavier Siemens as a new professor of physics.