Catching a star: How modern astronomers find exciting phenomena

Modern astrophysics infers extreme phenomena from precise, theory-driven signatures. In this talk, we will explore the empirical case for the Big Bang—cosmic expansion, light-element abundances, and the cosmic microwave background—and why these lines of evidence make it the most plausible origin of the Universe. We will examine how kilometer-scale laser interferometers identify black hole mergers with LIGO, and how next-generation detectors may let us peek closer to the Big Bang via gravitational waves. Finally, we will explore how JWST pushes galaxy surveys into the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang.