While gazing up at the night sky, it is almost unfathomable to consider the incredible complexity that defines the intricacies of our Universe. Dr. Gordon Richards, of Drexel University, is an astronomer and astrophysicist that studies our universe in order to find clues that will shed light on how the galaxies that we see today came to be. Specifically, Dr. Richards studies quasars, which are galaxies that are host to a super-massive black hole in their centers that "eats" materials around it. Quasars were first discovered in 1963 and now, during the course of his research, Dr. Richards has arguably "discovered" more of these black holes than anyone else. He continues to lead researchers by creating innovative tools and technologies to find even more quasars and furthermore, to use quasars as tools to probe our Universe.

Dr. Richards' research lays a foundation for addressing many of the pressing questions we have had about black holes and our universe since we were kids. Dr. Richards' research on black holes, and the field of astronomy in general, serves as an inspiration for budding young scientists around the world. In addition, Dr. Richards' use of modern statistical methods to find black holes makes his research unique and allows him to mine through massive data sets more efficiently and accurately than ever before. In terms of physics, his research is also unique because he and his team are trying to understand how new data can fit with old models of black holes in quasars or if those models need to be updated.

Current research includes: 

• Counting Black Holes: Dr. Richards and his collaborators are hoping to identify as many super-massive black holes as possible. In order to do so, Dr. Richards uses technology being developed in preparation for the LSST project which will be the biggest ground-based astronomy project in the world. The LSST project will allow scientists to create a complete map of the sky every three days and to turn those maps into a video of the sky, enabling researchers to assess how the universe is changing over time. 

• Hidden Black Holes: Many times, black holes are hidden from view. Dr. Richards uses observations from the  infrared Spitzer Space Telescope in collaboration with researchers using the Chandra X-ray Observatory in order to find black holes that would otherwise be impossible to find. 

• "Listening" for Black Holes: 10% of quasars are powerful radio sources. Scientists suspect that black hole spin may be the cause of the powerful radio emission from some quasars. Researchers are able to pick up upon their frequencies using the Very Large Array in Socorro, New Mexico in order to locate them. 

• Understanding the Physics of Black Holes: Dr. Richards and his team are hoping to understand the physics of black holes. For instance, Dr. Richards investigates if super-massive black holes in quasars create powerful winds that may influence the development of the galaxies that we see today. 

• Educational Outreach: Dr. Richards' dedication to educating future scientists extends beyond the walls of his own lab. He runs an observatory open house and also regularly goes into classrooms to educate children that may one day be scientists too. With more funding, Dr. Richards hopes to extend his ability to assist Philadelphia-area public schools by implementing a program that allows children to check out a telescope from their library, just like they would a book!