Catherine Slaughter

Catherine Slaughter, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota, joins to unravel the mysteries of pulsating stars. She explains how Cepheid variables experience dramatic brightness changes due to helium ionization, creating a rhythm of expansion and contraction. The discussion reveals the vital role these stars play in measuring cosmic distances and enhancing our understanding of the universe. Slaughter also highlights advancements in astronomical data collection and the promise of machine learning in stellar research.