On October 3, 2017, Kip S. Thorne, along with two colleagues, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his work with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and his contribution to the first discovery of gravitational waves. Their groundbreaking observation of gravitational waves in 2015 confirmed predictions made by Albert Einstein over a century ago.

Thorne is a collaborator with LSA Physics Professor Keith Riles, leader of the Michigan Gravitational Wave Group at LIGO. In addition, Thorne served as a professor and mentor to another LSA physics faculty member, Gregory Tarlé.

Thorne also gave the prestigious Ta-You Wu Distinguished Lecture in Physics at the University of Michigan Physics Department last month. Click here to view his lecture.

Click here to read more about Thorne's award at the Washington Post.

Click here to visit LSA's Department of Physics.

 

Photo above, courtesy of Pablo Alvarez: Nobel Prize recipient Kip S. Thorne (middle), Professors of Physics Keith Riles (left) and Gregory Tarlé (right) at the Special Collections Library in Hatcher Graduate Library. Professor Kip Thorne is holding the original document where Galileo recorded his first observations of the moons of Jupiter with his new telescope.