Cosmic-Lab is a five-year project aimed at probing the complex interplay between dynamics and stellar evolution by using Galactic Globular Clusters (the most populous stellar aggregates in the Milky Way) as Cosmic Laboratories, and blue straggler stars and millisecond pulsars (the most exotic by-products of this interplay) as test-particles.

The research takes advantage of a tight synergy between observing data acquired at the major ground-based and space telescopes, and state-of-the-art N-body simulations and dynamical models.

The results are expected to have a crucial impact on several areas of modern Astrophysics and Physics research, ranging from the evolution of cosmic structures, to the equation of state of matter at nuclear equilibrium densities.


The project has been funded by the European Research Council, within the 2010 Advanced Grant call and it started on May, 1st 2011.


The Principal Investigator of the project is Francesco R. Ferraro of the Physics and Astronomy Department of the University of Bologna.

Star Clusters as Cosmic Laboratories for Astrophysics, Dynamics and Fundamental Physics

In evidence:

The Conference

In evidence: Terzan 5: Astronomy Picture of the Dayhttp://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160921.htmlhttp://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160921.htmlhttp://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160921.htmlhttp://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.htmlshapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2