Prof Sakstein, who was born and educated in Harrow, takes the ‘Frontiers of Science’ award later this month for his research on gravitational waves.
The physics and astronomy professor, who now works at the University of Hawai’i, was co-author of a study into the 2017 neutron star collision that sent light and gravity waves across the cosmos.
“My cosmology research is the origin, evolution and fate of the universe,” he says.
“We are constantly uncovering unexplained mysteries. I try to understand these by testing gravity and the force that shapes the universe, using astronomical objects like black holes, stars and galaxies.”
His study showed that the near-simultaneous arrival of those galactic waves ruled out alternative theories of gravity, bringing scientists closer to understanding what’s behind the mysterious acceleration of the universe — commonly referred to as ‘dark energy’.
Only 40 studies which are a breakthrough in their fields of research were selected for the ‘Frontiers of Science’ award by the International Congress of Basic Science.
Prof Sakstein gets the award at the Third International Congress in Beijing later this month, when the world’s top scientists gather to mark cutting-edge discoveries in the natural sciences.
