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The first-ever detection of gravitational waves and the powwow that preceded it

By Regina G. Barber,
Devan Schwartz, Gabriel Spitzer
Published November 8, 2024 at 3:43 PM EST
This artistic illustration shows the gravitational waves that ripple out from two neutron stars colliding with each other. This collision also causes bursts of gamma rays to be shot out seconds after the gravitational waves.
NSF/LIGO/Sonoma State University/A. Simonnet
This artistic illustration shows the gravitational waves that ripple out from two neutron stars colliding with each other. This collision also causes bursts of gamma rays to be shot out seconds after the gravitational waves.

A pivotal week in Corey Gray's life began with a powwow in Alberta and culminated with a piece of history: the first-ever detection of gravitational waves from the collision of two neutron stars. Corey was on the graveyard shift at LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory in Hanford, Washington, when the historic signal came. This episode, Corey talks about the discovery, the "Gravitational Wave Grass Dance Special" that preceded it and how he got his Blackfoot name. (encore)

This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Gabriel Spitzer and fact-checked by Abē Levine.

Copyright 2024 NPR

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Regina G. Barber
Regina G. Barber is Short Wave's Scientist in Residence. She contributes original reporting on STEM and guest hosts the show.
Devan Schwartz
Devan Schwartz is an editor for NPR's Morning Edition. He is an experienced audio professional who, in addition to his work with NPR, has worked with such organizations as BBC, Slate, the New York Times, and various public radio stations.
Gabriel Spitzer
Gabriel Spitzer (he/him) is Senior Editor of Short Wave, NPR's daily science podcast. He comes to NPR following years of experience at Member stations – most recently at KNKX in Seattle, where he covered science and health and then co-founded and hosted the weekly show Sound Effect. That show told character-driven stories of the region's people. When the Pacific Northwest became the first place in the U.S. hit by COVID-19, the show switched gears and relaunched as Transmission, one of the country's first podcasts about the pandemic.