In the News
Astronomers Discover Giant Wave-shaped Structure in the Milky Way
This image shows the Radcliffe Wave, taken from the World Wide Telescope, overlaid on an artist's illustration of the Milky Way and our sun. Courtesy of Alyssa Goodman/Harvard UniversityOur solar system resides in one of the Milky Way galaxy's spiral arms, and for the first time, astronomers have realized we're close to a giant wave-shaped gaseous structure that connects star nurseries.
Vast "Star Nursery" Region Found in Our Galaxy
A visualisation of the Radcliffe Wave - one of the largest coherent structures in the Milky Way. Image courtesy of Alyssa Goodman/Harvard UniversityAstronomers have discovered a vast structure in our galaxy, made up of many interconnected "nurseries" where stars are born.
An Interstellar Ribbon of Clouds in the Sun’s Backyard
The clouds that make up the Radcliffe Wave (highlighted in red) pass within just 500 light years of our sun (yellow). Wave data has been superimposed on an artist's rendering of the Milky Way galaxy as it appears in a screen shot taken from WorldWide Telescope. Image courtesy of Alyssa Goodman, Harvard UniversityA 9,000-light-year-long ribbon of matter undulates through our sun’s interstellar neighborhood, made of hundreds of different clouds of dust and gas—the largest such structure of interacting nebulae yet described. Its discovery re-draws the map of our corner of the Milky Way.
Harvard Scientists Find Wave of Stellar Nurseries in Milky Way
Astronomers at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study have discovered a massive wave of stellar nurseries located near the sun, one of the largest coherent gaseous structures ever observed in the Milky Way.
Shawon Kinew
Photo by Stu RosnerRadcliffe Professor Shawon Kinew is interested in how early modern sculptors pushed the boundaries of what sculpture should be able to do.
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Angela Davis: Freed by the People
Detail from angela Davis's FBI Wanted Flyer #457, 1970. Courtesy of Schlesinger LibraryA new exhibition uncovers the political activist’s photographs, speeches, and letters, tracking the experiences that helped make her the woman she is today.
Bringing the Human Heart to Life
Detail of Unknown and Solitary Seas. Photo courtesy of Inman Gallery, HoustonArtist Dario Robleto and cardiovascular scientist Doris Taylor are each experts on the human heart. They learned even more about it from one another.
The Hunt for a Lost Book of Moses
Chanan Tigay during his talk at Radcliffe. Photo by Kevin Grady/Radcliffe InstituteRadcliffe scholar Chanan Tigay tried to track down what could be a forgery, or the oldest Bible in the world.
Giving Voice to the Heart
Reviewers have praised Chaya Czernowin's opera, "Heart Chamber," describing it as "overwhelming and touching in an unfamiliar way." Czernowin is the Rieman and Baketel Fellow for Music at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Photo by Christopher McIntoshA new opera by Harvard professor Chaya Czernowin RI '20 voices the conflicted inner thoughts of a couple falling in love.
Radcliffe Fellow Talks Technological Advancement, Privacy, and Ethics
Photo by Tony RinaldoComputer scientist Francine Berman RI '20 discussed the need for data policy that promotes the public good and protects consumer security.