Institute for Advanced Study / Princeton University Joint Astrophysics Colloquium

The detection of GW170817 enabled us to track down and watch the cataclysm event in multiple wavelengths of light, allowing us to scrutinize the source of these cosmic ripples for the first time. This discovery provided the first solid evidence that neutron-star smashups are the source of much of the Universe's gold, platinum and other heavy elements in the Universe. With a single event, we were able to answer fundamental questions in general relativity, cosmology, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. However, other parts of the story told by these events are still shrouded in mystery. For astronomers and physicists across disciplines, this is an extremely exciting time to be alive.