Joseph Silk honored for his 'lifetime of eminence in astronomical research'

Joseph Silk, the Homewood Professor of Physics and Astronomy in Johns Hopkins' Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, has been named the recipient of the 2018 Henry Norris Russell Lectureship by the American Astronomical Society. The award recognizes a "lifetime of eminence in astronomical research" and honors Silk for his "lifetime contributions to our understanding of the early universe and galaxy formation."

The author of more than 800 refereed articles and eight books, Silk conducted important early work on homogeneities in the cosmic microwave background and how they are influenced by density fluctuations in the matter of the early universe, in particular by a damping effect that bears his name. These were decisive contributions that helped transform cosmology into a high-precision science. He also has made pioneering advances in understanding the nature of dark matter and explored novel indirect methods for its detection. The latter have inspired very large experiments with new types of telescopes. His studies of galaxy formation and his work on the dynamics of mass loss and the feedback mechanisms from star formation and evolution have formed a very significant basis for subsequent work in this important field.

In 2011, Silk was awarded the Balzan Prize for his pioneering work on the infant universe; the $950,000 award is given annually to people or organizations that have made outstanding achievements in the fields of the natural sciences, humanities and culture, as well as for peace-promoting endeavors

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