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LIGO Magazine
@ligomagazine.bsky.social
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The LIGO Magazine is published twice a year by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (@ligo.org). Read free online for gravitational-wave news, stories behind the science and more!

www.ligo.org/magazine
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ligomagazine.bsky.social
In the latest edition of the #LIGOMagazine, Catalina Miritescu told us all about bringing #GravitationalWave noise hunting with @ligo.org-@egovirgo.bsky.social-KAGRA to the Romanian National Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad!

Read all about it at (pdf, page 38): ligo.org/wp-content/u...
A screenshot of LIGO Magazine article "From noise hunting to Olympiads" by Catalina Miritescu. The page shows the article title and a photo of the author. The image shows a plot produced by students as part of their Olympiad challenge. Image credit: Catalina Miritescu.
November 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
In the latest edition of #LIGOMagazine, Ivan Markin chats with Pekka Manninen from LUMI (@lumi-supercomputer.eu) about paths to fossil free computing & the LUMI experience of using 100% renewables.
Read all about it at (pdf, page 40): ligo.org/wp-content/u...

#ClimateChangeConversations
#GW10Years
A screenshot from LIGO Magazine article "A path to fossil-free supercomputing". The image shows the title of the article displayed over a photo of the LUMI data centre in Finland. The data centre is in a large building and is artistically lit in shades of blue. Image credit: Fade Creative.
September 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
And the other poster takes a look at @ligo.org @egovirgo.bsky.social KAGRA and their science.

By Gwendolyn Krenkel (Artwork and Concept), Sascha Rieger/ Milde Marketing Science Comms.
Full resolution version at: dcc.ligo.org/G2501956/pub...

#GW10Years
"What is LIGO?" poster. The poster features a range of line drawings in blue and white explaining LIGO and its science. In each scene the character explains an aspect of LIGO or gravitational-wave science. The poster includes information including: LIGO has 4km long arms; the location of the LIGO instruments in Hanford and Livingston; the first detection happened in 2015; the other gravitational wave detectors are Virgo in Italy, KAGRA in Japan, GEO600 in Germany.
September 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
We are thrilled to feature two posters in the latest #LIGOMagazine!

One poster explores the evolution of #GravitationalWave science.

By Yi Shuen Christine Lee / Carl Knox / @ozgrav.bsky.social
Full resolution version at: dcc.ligo.org/G2501957/pub...

#GW10Years @ligo.org @egovirgo.bsky.social
A poster in purples, pinks and blues showing a timeline of gravitational wave science. The timeline starts in the 1910s with the proposal of the existence of gravitational waves and goes up to the present day when we celebrate 10 years of gravitational wave observations as well as looking to future wit new facilities being planned and built. Throughout the timeline, there are illustrations showing black holes, neutron stars, gravitational waves and interferometers.
September 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Exciting to get a first look at the #LISA spacecraft!

In the latest #LIGOMagazine, Oliver Jennrich & Nora Lützgendorf told us all about the selection of the industrial prime contractor.

Read all about it on page 34 (pdf): ligo.org/wp-content/u...

@lisacommunity.bsky.social #GW10Years
A screenshot of LIGO Magazine article "LISA construction starts: Industrial prime contractor selected!" which is part of the "Meanwhile in Space..." series. The image shows the title of the article as well as two images. One image shows the handshake between Carole Mundell (from ESA) and Chiara Pedersoli (from OHB). They are smiling and standing in front of a banner which reads "LISA mission signature event". The other image shows the two authors of the article, Oliver Jennrich & Nora Lützgendorf. They are sat together at a table smiling.
September 16, 2025 at 4:04 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
And a big thank you to Rob Coyne (@robcoyne.com) and Peter Shawhan for going above and beyond to help us get this bumper edition over the line - including inserting posters in each & every copy at the @ligo.org-@egovirgo.bsky.social-KAGRA meeting in Colorado last week!

(📸 Photo by Peter Shawhan)
Rob Coyne inserting posters into the LIGO Magazine edition. Rob is sat at a table in a conference room with several round tables and chairs behind. A LIGO Magazine is open on the table and a poster has just been added to it. To the side there are more LIGO Magazines in a pile waiting in the production line. Photo credit: Peter Shawhan.
September 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Thank you to all who contributed to this extra long edition, especially our wonderful editorial team for all your hard work and enthusiasm!

Read this and all editions at: ligo.org/magazine/

#GW10Years
Front cover of LIGO Magazine issue 27. The headline article text reads: "10 years of Gravitational Wave Astronomy". Two gravitational wave signals are shown in the main image - they are shown as timeseries data which look wiggles. In the top corner, an illustration of a birthday cake is shown - the cake is being distorted as it is sucked into a black hole! Cover: Main image: GW150914 and GW231123 image by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA/Sascha Rieger. Top inset: GW231123 plot from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA. Bottom inset: Masses in the stellar graveyard plot by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA/Aaron Geller/Northwestern. Bottom-left (diagonal): LISA image from OHB. Top-right corner: GW150914 birthday cake artwork by Storm Colloms.
September 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
#GW231123 - the most massive black hole merger yet! We also caught up with Debnandini Mukherjee and Tanmaya Mishra on what makes this observation interesting plus their experience of working on the discovery paper.

#GW10Years #GWTC4
A page of LIGO Magazine article "GW231123 - the most massive black hole merger yet!". The page includes the title of the article and an infographic about GW231123 in blues and yellows. The infographic displays information including the mass of the two black holes (which were 137 and 103 times the mass of our sun), the distance that the signal travelled (between 2 billion light years and 13 billion light years) and how long the signal lasted in the LIGO Livingston and LIGO Hanford detectors (0.1 seconds). Image credit: Simona J. Miller / Caltech. The image shows a page of LIGO Magazine article "GW231123: the most massive black hole merger yet!". The page includes photos of the two authors, Debnandini Mukherjee & Tanmaya Mishra. Both of them are smiling.
September 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
As well as looking back at the last decade, we take a peak at some recent results with behind the scenes stories about the latest #GravitationalWave catalog with Lucy Thomas, @daniel-williams.co.uk and @michaelpuerrer.bsky.social

#GW10Years
#GWTC4
A page of LIGO Magazine article "GWTC-4.0 Catalog Paper". The page includes an image showing the gravitational wave observations so far which are indicated by circles at different distances from a central point signifying the Earth. Image created by: Derek Davis/Rhiannon Udall/Caltech/LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA The page also includes a photo of one of the authors, Lucy Thomas. A page of LIGO Magazine article about GWTC-4.0. The page includes a photo of one of the authors, Daniel Williams. A page of the LIGO Magazine article about GWTC-4.0. The image at the top of the page is called the "masses in the stellar graveyard plot". It summarises the gravitational wave observations of neutron stars and black holes so far. Each object is represented by a circle and they are ordered vertically by mass. The image is full of circles representing many observations. The horizontal arrangement is purely aesthetic and appears like the spread wings of a bird. Image credit: LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA/Aaron Geller/Northwestern. The page also shows a photo of one of the authors, Michael Pürrer. A page of the LIGO Magazine article about GWTC-4.0. The image at the top of the page shows an older version of the masses in the stellar graveyard plot from 2017. This older version has far fewer observations compared to the current version (described in another image within this post). Image credit: LIGO-Virgo/Frank Elaysky/Northwestern University.
September 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
In this edition, collaboration members past and present share their reflections and memories of the first detection of #GravitationalWaves. Stories range from the very first investigations of #GW150914 to sharing the discovery with the world and the amazing decade of discovery since! 🔭

#GW10Years
The title of the article "10 years of Gravitational Wave Astronomy". The text is written on a purple background. Behind the text are two gravitational-wave signals, GW150914 and GW231123. The signals are displayed as timeseries data - which is like a wiggle increasing in amplitude from left to right, before reducing. Image credit: y LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA/Sascha Rieger.
September 15, 2025 at 10:57 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
🎉 New LIGO Magazine out now!! 🎉

Celebrating 10 years of gravitational wave astronomy with a bumper edition!

Read it free online at (pdf):
👉 ligo.org/wp-content/u...

#GW10Years #LIGOMagazine @ligo.org @egovirgo.bsky.social
Front cover of LIGO Magazine issue 27. The headline article text reads: "10 years of Gravitational Wave Astronomy". Two gravitational wave signals are shown in the main image - they are shown as timeseries data which look wiggles. In the top corner, an illustration of a birthday cake is shown - the cake is being distorted as it is sucked into a black hole! Cover: Main image: GW150914 and GW231123 image by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA/Sascha Rieger. Top inset: GW231123 plot from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA. Bottom inset: Masses in the stellar graveyard plot by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA/Aaron Geller/Northwestern. Bottom-left (diagonal): LISA image from OHB. Top-right corner: GW150914 birthday cake artwork by Storm Colloms.
September 15, 2025 at 10:40 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
And, a LIGO (@ligo.org‬) BOSEM can be spotted!

BOSEMs are the Birmingham Optical Sensor and ElectroMagnetic actuator. They are components used to stabilise the LIGO mirrors, made in Birmingham!
A small metal component of a LIGO observatory. It is a metal device with some electronic components.
July 16, 2025 at 7:56 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Today at Carole Mundell's (@cmundell.bsky.social ) a few familiar objects can be spotted!

This mosaic shows a #GravitationalWave signal in time and frequency @uofgravity.bsky.social

Check out the story behind the first mosaic here: (page 17) ligo.org/wp-content/u...
A mosaic of a gravitational wave signal
July 16, 2025 at 7:51 PM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
GWECS includes several support structures including our own @ligo.org LAAC and @egovirgo.bsky.social VECS teams.

Mikhail Korobko (@mkorobko.bsky.social) presents GWECS support tools including the mentoring program, the recognition program, and the beginner's guide to our collaboration.
A presentation at a scientific conference. The speaker is stood on a stage. The slides are shown behind them.
July 15, 2025 at 10:57 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Want to find out more about GWECS???

Elisa Maggio presents GWECS activities including workshops, job fairs, sharing fellowship/grant opportunities and news.

Check out GWECS and subscribe to the mailing list at gwecs.org

#GR24Amaldi16
A presentation at a scientific conference.
July 15, 2025 at 10:49 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
One way to support early career scientists is holding workshops. GWECS hosted a workshop last week with support of the #GR24Amaldi16 local organising committee.
Golam Shaifullah, Christopher Berry (cplberry.bsky.social‬), Rachel Gray share their experience of hosting this very successful workshop!
A slide being presented at a conference. The slide images show participants at the GWECS workshop.
July 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Supporting early career scientists is the responsibility of everyone in our community. Francesca Attadio presents some of the challenges faces by early career scientists.
#GR24Amaldi16
A presentation at a scientific conference. Two of the challenges are show: * High rates of depressive symptoms * Thinking about leaving academia on a daily basis
July 15, 2025 at 10:40 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Today at #GR24Amaldi16, the GWECS team is presenting on supporting early career researches.

GWECS is Gravitational Wave Early Career Scientists - find out more at: gwecs.org
A presentation at a scientific conference. The speaker is standing at a podium. The slides are projected behind them. The title of the slides is "Supporting early career researchers".
July 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Ever wondered what happens if you fall into a black hole?
In the latest #LIGOMagazine, Bartosz Fornal explains "Crossing the event horizon"! With illustrations by Nutsinee Kijbunchoo.

Read free online at (pdf, p.22): ligo.org/wp-content/u...
@ligo.org
A screenshot of LIGO Magazine article "Crossing the Event Horizon" by Bartosz Fornal. The image shows the first page of the article. There is a photo of the author smiling. The main picture is an illustration by Nutsinee Kijbunchoo showing a drawing of an astronaut in space. A screenshot of LIGO Magazine article "Crossing the Event Horizon" by Bartosz Fornal. The image shows the second page of the article. The main picture is an illustration by Nutsinee Kijbunchoo. The picture shows a drawing of a two black holes with faces. The smaller black hole is measuring the circumference of the larger black hole with a tap measure. The smaller one says "Your Schwarzschild radius has gotten bigger. What did you eat?" The other black hole looks sheepish and replies "An astronaut."
June 24, 2025 at 10:46 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Last year we caught up with Nora Lützgendorf (ESA’s Lead Project Scientist for LISA) on the adoption of LISA!

Read all about it in #LIGOMagazine (pdf, p14): ligo.org/wp-content/u...
Showing a screenshot of LIGO Magazine article "Meanwhile in space..... LISA gets go-ahead for implementation" by Nora Lützgendorf. The page shows a photo of one of the LISA test masses - it is a golden metal cube against a white background. The other photo is a picture of the author Nora smiling.
June 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM
ligomagazine.bsky.social
Check out the LIGO Magazine for #GravitationalWave news, stories behind the science and much more!
All issues are free to read online at www.ligo.org/magazine
@ligo.org #LIGOMagazine
A screenshot of the front cover of LIGO Magazine issue 26. The main cover image shows a LIGO scientist climbing through part of the LIGO Hanford Detector to check the alignment of a temporary laser. She is in a large grey tube, wearing clean room overalls and is reaching to work on part of the detector. Image credit: Keita Kawabe.
June 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM