Corey Gray experienced a significant week starting with a powwow in Alberta and ending with a landmark event: the first detection of gravitational waves from two neutron stars colliding. Corey, working the late shift at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Hanford, Washington, was on duty when the groundbreaking signal arrived.
During a conversation with Regina G. Barber, a Scientist-in-Residence on NPR’s Short Wave, Corey shared details about the discovery. He also discussed the ‘Gravitational Wave Grass Dance Special’ that happened before the detection and the story behind how he received his Blackfoot name.
This episode was created by Devan Schwartz, with editing by Gabriel Spitzer and fact-checking by Abē Levine.