# Probing Gravity and Matter with Gravitational Waves

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (IL) · $280,000

## Abstract

Gravitational wave astrophysics has entered a new era of discovery and exploration. In 2015, advanced LIGO detected gravitational waves for the first time, earning the pioneers of gravitational-wave physics a Nobel prize, and the collaboration several other prestigious prizes. Since then, advanced LIGO and its European partner, Virgo, and its Japanese partner, KAGRA, have detected over 300 additional events. All of these gravitational waves were emitted by black holes and/or neutron stars that spiraled into each other and collided at velocities close to half the speed of light. The neutron star events revealed important astrophysical information about matter in extreme environments, such as the fact that most of the gold in the universe is produced in these cosmic collisions. The black hole events validated the predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity in a regime that had never been explored before: where the gravitational force is enormous and violently changing. The extraction and the interpretation of all this physical information required the accurate construction of gravitational wave models and data analysis techniques with which to pull the signal out of the detector noise. The main objective of this award is to develop ready-to-use models and artificial-intelligence-enhanced data analysis algorithms to trigger strong progress in science through the more detailed and robust extraction of information about matter and gravity in extreme environments. The a

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2512423
- **Awardee organization:** University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (IL)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Y8CWNJRCNN91
- **PI:** Nicolas Yunes
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** Windows on the Universe (WoU), THEORETICAL & COMPUTATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS
- **Estimated total:** $280,000
- **Funds obligated:** $280,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 08/15/2025 → 07/31/2027

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2512423

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2512423, Probing Gravity and Matter with Gravitational Waves. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2512423. Licensed CC0.

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