Intelligent scholars: Female astronomy researchers at Case Western Reserve University unravel cosmic enigmas
Astrophysicists Idit Zehavi and Johanna Nagy Pioneer Research at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is home to two renowned astrophysicists, Idit Zehavi and Johanna Nagy, who are making significant strides in their respective fields.
Idit Zehavi, a professor of physics, specializes in large-scale structures in the universe. Her research lies at the intersection of theoretical and observational cosmology, focusing on statistical analyses and numerical simulations of structure formation in the universe. Zehavi's work investigates the relationship between galaxies and dark matter, which constitutes most of the universe's mass.
Zehavi's research primarily utilizes data from large galaxy surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), which has mapped around one million galaxies out to four billion light years. Her work aims to understand the formation and distribution of cosmic structures and what these reveal about dark matter. Zehavi's research is highly cited in cosmology and large-scale structure studies.
Johanna Nagy, the Warren E. Rupp Assistant Professor of Physics, works in the field of experimental cosmology. Her research focuses on variations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB), a relic of the Big Bang. Nagy is looking for polarized or flipped microwave photons in her research, which could provide insights into the early universe.
Nagy's innovative approach involves building telescopes that can be carried on balloons 120,000 feet high. These balloon telescopes take advantage of 24-hour daylight in December and January, allowing for extended observation periods. Nagy and her team travel regularly to Antarctica for their experiments.
Nagy's research has earned her recognition from NASA, who named her a Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellow in Astrophysics in 2024. She was also a Cotrell Scholar. Both Nagy and Zehavi are members of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at CWRU.
Evalyn Gates, an adjunct faculty member in physics at Case Western Reserve University, is another notable astrophysicist at the university. Gates is widely recognized for her research on gravitational lensing and understanding the large-scale structure of the universe.
Heather Morrison, emeritus professor of astronomy at Case Western Reserve University, is internationally recognized for her research on understanding the structure and evolution of galaxies, particularly the Milky Way galaxy.
August 1 is observed as Women Astronomers Day, honouring Maria Mitchell, the first American woman astronomer and professor of astronomy, born on this day in 1818. The presence of these accomplished astrophysicists at Case Western Reserve University continues this tradition of women making significant contributions to the field of astronomy.
References: [1] Idit Zehavi's faculty profile: https://physics.case.edu/faculty/zehavi/ [2] SDSS publications: https://www.sdss.org/dr16/algorithms/pubs.php
At Case Western Reserve University, Idit Zehavi, a professor of physics, focuses her research on large-scale structures in the universe, particularly exploring the relationship between galaxies and dark matter using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
Johanna Nagy, the Warren E. Rupp Assistant Professor of Physics, researches variations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB), utilizing innovative balloon telescopes for extended observation periods. Both researchers contribute to the continued tradition of women making significant contributions to the field of astronomy, as exemplified by Women Astronomers Day on August 1.
