Next generation

Chicago researchers at the Enrico Fermi Institute assembled much of this prototype for one of the world’s most sensitive high-energy gamma-ray observatories. Ground-based VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System, will help an international team including Scott Wakely, AB’93, a research scientist at Fermi; Simon Swordy, professor in physics, astronomy, & astrophysics; and Lucy Fortson, a senior research associate in astronomy & astrophysics, survey the sky for gamma rays—rare, electromagnetic radiation transporting trillions of times more energy than visible light. Construction on the Arizona observatory began in March. The $13.1 million project is funded by the Energy Department and the National Science Foundation.—M.L.

Courtesy Simon Swordy