About

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a large-scale scientific experiment designed to detect gravitational waves as predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. LIGO’s multi-kilometer-scale gravitational-wave detectors use laser interferometry to measure the minute ripples in spacetime caused by passing gravitational waves from cataclysmic cosmic sources such as spinning neutron stars, the mergers of pairs of neutron stars or black holes,  and supernovae.

Humans of LIGO is an initiative which celebrates the vital cogs in this mega-science endeavor: individuals in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC). Founded in 1997, the LSC comprises of more than 1300 scientists and engineers from over 100 institutions and 18 countries worldwide. The Collaboration exhibits incredible diversity among its members, with people coming from all backgrounds and at various stages of their careers.

The whole might be greater than the sum of its parts, as Aristotle puts it, but we believe each part hides a story as endearing as the boundaries of science LIGO pushes.

Current Editors:

Zoheyr Doctor, University of Oregon

Sumeet Kulkarni, University of Mississippi

Phil Landry, California State University, Fullerton

Denyz Melchor, California State University, Fullerton

Sudarshan Ghonghe, Georgia Tech

 

For more information, visit www.ligo.org.