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[Phys-L] first cosmic event observed in both gravitational waves and light



In case you haven't already been bombarded by the news:
first cosmic event observed in both gravitational waves and light
https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/press-release-gw170817

Theorists have predicted that what follows the initial fireball is a
“kilonova” — a phenomenon by which the material that is left over
from the neutron star collision, which glows with light, is blown out
of the immediate region and far out into space. The new light-based
observations show that heavy elements, such as lead and gold, are
created in these collisions and subsequently distributed throughout
the universe.

Here is some relatively-detailed explanations in nontechnical terms,
not too bad, although I remain less-than-fond of "trampoline" analogies:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/10/16/scientists-detect-gravitational-waves-from-a-new-kind-of-nova-sparking-a-new-era-in-astronomy/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/10/16/gravitational-waves-neutron-stars-kilonovas-what-the-new-physics-announcement-means/