Astrophysics

The latest "Humans of JILA" podcast episode features an insightful discussion with JILA graduate student and astrophysical researcher Tatsuya Akiba. Working under the mentorship of JILA Fellow and Assistant Professor Ann-Marie Madigan, Akiba delves into their recent research on white dwarf stars.

JILA marked the summer solstice with a unique celebration in the X-wing basement, a space ingeniously designed to allow sunlight to illuminate its floor at midday on this special day. This architectural feature transformed the basement into a sunlit patio for a few brief minutes, allowing JILA Fellows like Eric Cornell to do a quick experiment on the architecture. 

In an article published by Universe Today, JILA Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder Astrophysical and Planetary Scientist Ann-Marie Madigan's recent research was discussed, revealing why these white dwarf stars often appear "polluted" with heavy metals, a long-standing astronomical puzzle.