UWM empowering 'citizen scientists' to contribute to astrophysical research

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is collaborating on a project inviting citizen scientists to aid in the search for new pulsars, contributing assistance to the field of astronomy.

As part of Einstein@Home, a joint initiative with the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, UWM is harnessing the collective power of 15,000 volunteers and their computers to process data potentially holding the keys to understanding gravitational waves and neutron stars.

The project has made strides in the identification of pulsars using data from some of Earth's most prominent radio telescopes.

The significance of finding new pulsars lies in their ability to inform numerous areas of astrophysical research. These celestial bodies serve as tools to test theories of general relativity, study the properties of matter under extreme conditions and search for low-frequency gravitational waves.

Pulsars, particularly those in tight orbits, could shed light on the genesis of heavy elements in the universe. The role of these volunteers is pivotal as they help sift through a variety of pulsar candidates, a task too formidable for one single effort.

Those ready to participate can join as Pulsar Seekers through the Zooniverse platform. Registration details and project guidelines are available by clicking here.