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2025 Year in Review
12/17/2025

2025 Year in Review

Caltech News

As 2025 draws to a close, we look back at some of the Caltech-led discoveries and innovations from throughout the past year.

Collage of images from 2025 Caltech news stories
Possible "Superkilonova" Exploded Not Once But Twice
12/16/2025

Possible "Superkilonova" Exploded Not Once But Twice

Whitney Clavin

Double explosion may have produced gravitational waves and light

A red kilonova blast is seen within a blue cloud of supernova debris.
The Math of Universality
12/12/2025

The Math of Universality

Whitney Clavin

A conversation with new mathematics faculty member Lingfu Zhang.

Lingfu sitting on a green modern chair.
New Palomar Director and Director of Instrumentation Roles Announced
12/10/2025

New Palomar Director and Director of Instrumentation Roles Announced

Whitney Clavin

Mansi Kasliwal and Dimitri Mawet will help guide Caltech's premier telescopes

Mansi Kasliwal in a red shirt next to Dimitri Mawet in a plaid shirt.
Kip Thorne to Deliver the 132nd Commencement Address
12/08/2025

Kip Thorne to Deliver the 132nd Commencement Address

Kip Thorne (BS '62)—theoretical astrophysicist, Distinguished Alumnus, and Nobel laureate—will deliver the keynote address at Caltech's 132nd annual Commencement ceremony on June 12, 2026.

Kip Thorne seated against a black background
Caltech Mourns the Passing of Postdoctoral Scholar Kenny Lau (1989–2025)
12/02/2025

Caltech Mourns the Passing of Postdoctoral Scholar Kenny Lau (1989–2025)

Sharon W. Tran

Kenny Lau, a postdoctoral scholar research associate and experimental cosmologist in the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (PMA), passed away on November 22, 2025. He was 36 years old.

A man with glasses smiles at the camera
Rare Star System Gives Insights into the Origins of Carbon Dust in the Galaxy
11/19/2025

Rare Star System Gives Insights into the Origins of Carbon Dust in the Galaxy

Lori Dajose

A new JWST image provides a detailed look at the carbonaceous dust shells thrown off by two extremely rare stars orbiting one another.

A spherical celestial shape envelops a round star at the center
Caltech's Pioneering Quantum Hub Celebrates 25 Years
11/05/2025

Caltech's Pioneering Quantum Hub Celebrates 25 Years

Whitney Clavin

John Preskill reflects on the history and impact of IQIM

A scientist is seen talking to others in a lab full of equipment.
Black Hole Flare is Biggest and Most Distant Seen
11/04/2025

Black Hole Flare is Biggest and Most Distant Seen

Whitney Clavin

The flare, co-discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility, may be the result of a mega black-hole meal.

A black hole surrounded by debris is depicted garbling a star that has been shredded and appears as bright light swirling into the black hole.
Two-Volume Essential Einstein Collection is Now Available
10/31/2025

Two-Volume Essential Einstein Collection is Now Available

Cynthia Eller

Diana Kormos-Buchwald and Tilman Sauer have edited and translated Einstein's most important and characteristic writings and released them in a two-volume set titled The Essential Einstein.

book jackets for the Essential Einstein, scientific writings and public writings. Each volume has a picture of Einstein on the cover.