Astrophysicists no longer sit and idly wonder what happens when a powerful stellar jet from a young star collides with giant clouds of gas and dust. They first watch what happens hundreds of light years away, and then recreate the cosmic event with a multi-trillion-watt laser capable of delivering more power than exists in the entire U.S. power grid. Read more
Astrophysicists Move Closer to Understanding the Beauty Behind Stellar Jets Certain stars stream vast amounts of matter into space, creating some of the most beautiful objects in astronomers' telescopes. But while the astronomers can enjoy the beauty, they can't explain it. Adam Frank, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester is hoping to change that. Earlier this year, Frank and his colleague, Eric Blackman, professor of physics and astronomy, were part of what he called "one of the greatest astrophysical experiments that's ever been done."