Corey Gray’s Role in Detecting Cosmic Vibrations

Corey Gray experienced a significant week that combined cultural celebration and groundbreaking science. It started with attending a powwow in Alberta, where he immersed himself in his cultural traditions.

Gray’s week reached a historic high at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Hanford, Washington. He worked during the night shift when the first successful detection of gravitational waves from merging neutron stars occurred. This was a monumental event in the field of astrophysics.

Gray shared his story with Regina G. Barber, Scientist-in-Residence for Short Wave. He described the excitement of the discovery and the special ‘Gravitational Wave Grass Dance’ tribute that took place before this event. He also talked about how he received his Blackfoot name and its cultural significance.

The episode detailing these events was produced by Devan Schwartz. Gabriel Spitzer handled the editing, and Abē Levine verified the facts to ensure accuracy.