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Explorations in Science and Technology

Pitt Explores the Cosmos

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Whether they’re exploring the furthest reaches of the cosmos or the mind of Albert Einstein, Pitt scientists are developing a better understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe.

In the early 1990s, Pitt astronomer David Turnshek discovered the furthest known galaxy from Earth. Studying astronomy can be humbling, he says. “The question always comes up: ‘What’s the universe made out of?’ And the answer is, ‘We don’t know,’” Turnshek points out.

Watch a video of Turnshek discussing his research.

 

In 2010, Pitt’s Ezra Newman won the Einstein Prize, which acknowledges a lifetime of important work on general relativity.

Read a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on Newman’s career.

History and Philosophy of Science professor John Norton has been described as “the world’s preeminent scholar on the genesis of Einstein’s theory of general relativity.” For years, Norton has taught a Pitt undergraduate course, “Einstein for Everyone,” which teaches students why Einstein’s discoveries were so important. He recently collected his lecture notes in a book, available online.

Browse Norton’s Web site, and link to his book, Einstein for Everyone.