Defy(n)ing gravity

The first-ever detections of gravitational waves from colliding black holes and neutron stars have launched a new era of gravitational wave astrophysics. Nergis Mavalvala, dean of and the Curtis (1963) and Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics in the MIT School of Science, describes the science, technology, and human story behind these discoveries, which provide a completely new window into some of the most violent and warped events in the universe and are helping to solve decades-long mysteries in astrophysics.

Brilliant hour-long talk sponsored by the Harvard Radcliffe Institute (there's a kerfuffle behind that name change from the Radcliffe Institute). 

My favorite bit: where she gives us an analogy that explains why gravity waves let us see closer to the Big Bang than light waves do. Has to do with introverts and extroverts leaving a party.