Explore the latest discoveries in gravitational-wave astronomy and their implications for understanding neutron stars and dense matter in this 41-minute lecture by Jocelyn Read from California State University, Fullerton. Delve into the groundbreaking observations made by LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA, including the neutron-star/black-hole mergers GW200105 and GW20011, and the heavy neutron-star merger GW190425. Learn about methods used to investigate matter and mass properties of LIGO/Virgo neutron stars, and how these findings align with other neutron-star observations. Gain insights into the potential of current Advanced-detector era and future next-generation gravitational-wave observatories like Cosmic Explorer in mapping the phase diagram of dense neutron-rich matter and revealing the endpoints of stellar evolution. Discover how the distribution of masses in compact binary mergers is becoming a crucial observable in gravitational-wave astronomy and its implications for our understanding of the universe. Read more