Dr Katie Mack
Dr Katie Mack is a theoretical astrophysicist exploring a range of questions in cosmology, the study of the universe from beginning to end. She currently holds the position of Hawking Chair in Cosmology and Science Communication at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, where she carries out research on dark matter and the early Universe and works to make physics more accessible to the general public. She is the author of the book The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) and has written for a number of popular publications, such as Scientific American, Slate, Sky & Telescope, Time, and Cosmos magazine.
Recent articles by Dr Katie Mack
How a solar eclipse revealed the warping of spacetime and opened a new window into the Universe
Since its effects were proven more than a century ago, scientists have used gravitational lensing to uncover many of the Universe's mysteries.
Earth is being bombarded by mysterious bursts of intergalactic radio waves. And it has scientists puzzled
Fast radio bursts originating from beyond the galaxy were first detected almost 20 years ago.
How new antimatter science could soon explain the existence of everything
Matter comes in many flavours, each with its own unique, intriguing properties.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured images of ancient galaxies that shouldn't exist. A cosmologist explains what could be going on.
According to current thinking, the Universe isn’t old enough to contain such massive galaxies.
Why we don’t have to worry about being sucked into the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way
Black holes may be notorious for sucking up anything that gets in their way, but we have nothing to worry about from the one in our galaxy’s heart. At least not for another four billion years.
Why new gravitational ripples are blowing the minds of scientists worldwide
NANOGrav’s exciting discovery is likely to keep cosmologists busy for years.
How the hunt for invisible particles is opening a new scientific frontier
The answer lies in achieving a perfect synergy between theory and experiment.
Why Schrödinger's Cat is still the most controversial thought experiment in science
Nearly a century after its formulation, the paradox remains hotly debated among researchers.
Yes, everything in physics is completely made up – that’s the whole point
A physicist's task is to constantly create equations that keep up with our observations of physical phenomena.
Clingy atoms and catastrophic iron: The strange science underpinning nuclear fusion
The atom-smashing reaction is a true marvel of nature.
How you could help protect Earth from a direct asteroid hit
An asteroid that recently crashed down in Ontario highlights the importance role hobbyists can lay in tracking Earth-bound asteroids.
It may be one of the basic building blocks of all matter, but there’s still a lot we have to learn about the proton
Physicists investigating the properties of the subatomic particle quickly find themselves going down a rabbit hole of complexity and quantum weirdness.
How a hunt for secret nuclear weapon tests led to the discovery of the most violent explosions in the Universe
Immensely energetic bursts of electromagnetic radiation are released by exploding stars. Studying them can teach us more about stellar evolution and the composition of the cosmos.
How the first stars split the Universe apart
Astronomers are delving into the dark period between the light from the Big Bang fading and the birth of the first stars.
We've made a map of dark matter but still don't know what it is, and that's okay
The exact nature of dark matter remains elusive.
First James Webb images show us "creation as it happens", says Hawking Chair in Cosmology
These images will kick-start a new era in space exploration.
Olbers' Paradox: What the mystery of the night sky teaches us about our Universe
Puzzling over the answers to a centuries-old cosmic paradox can teach us profound things about the Universe.
James Webb is about to take us to the "edge of time". Here's why that's even cooler than it sounds
NASA's newly launched space telescope is a spectacular upgrade, allowing us to see deeper into the past than ever before.