National Science Foundation Award Rochester Astronomy Researchers $1M in Funding

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Two Rochester researchers have been awarded more than $1 million to continue their study of gravitational waves — a phenomenon Albert Einstein predicted a century ago in his theory of general relativity.

Rochester Institute of Technology professor Carlos Lousto won a three-year $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support his research modeling the collision of black holes, which cause the waveforms.

RIT colleague Manuela Campanelli will use a $435,000 NSF grant to develop research software tools.

Einstein predicted gravitational waves 100 years ago, but they weren't detected until earlier this year.