Abstract: There is now an amalgam of observational evidence that massive stars undergo enhanced and/or eruptive mass-loss in their final years before explosion. In this talk, I will discuss how multi-wavelength observations of type II supernovae both before and after explosion can be utilized to probe the late-stage evolution of massive stars from months-to-millennia before core collapse. I will highlight ongoing observational efforts within the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) to autonomously identify and trigger multi-wavelength follow-up within days of explosion as well as discuss the new synthesis between ZTF and LSST that is being used for young supernova discovery. Additionally, I will describe recent results from panchromatic studies of type II supernovae at years-to-decades post-explosion and how such observing campaigns, coupled with state-of-the-art radiative transfer modeling, can quantify shock physics and the unknown late-stage mass-loss rates of red supergiant stars.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a crisis that goes far beyond its geopolitical implications. Accidents or deliberate attacks involving the oil tankers that remained trapped, could trigger an ecological disaster with long-lasting consequences for the region’s unique ecosystems.
Feroz Khan, a doctoral researcher at ICTA-UAB warns that countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as those in Central and Southern Africa, will be the most affected by this blockade.
Alejandro Romero Ros, a former postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and currently an external collaborator of the institute, has been awarded an Honorary Mention from the Institute of Catalan Studies (IEC) Section of Science and Technology in the field of Physical Sciences, in honor of Montserrat Casas.
The distinction recognizes his doctoral thesis, entitled On the Controlled Generation of Nonlinear Structures in Bose–Einstein Condensates, which he defended at the University of Hamburg in 2024. His work focuses on the study and control of nonlinear structures in Bose–Einstein condensates, a key topic in quantum physics and ultracold matter with both fundamental and applied implications.
The Sant Jordi Awards 2026 of the Institute of Catalan Studies (IEC) annually recognize excellence across a wide range of academic disciplines and are among the most prestigious distinctions in the Catalan academic landscape.
At ICCUB, we warmly congratulate Alejandro Romero Ros on this achievement, which highlights the quality of his research and his scientific trajectory.
The full list of awardees is available here.
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