Jump to content

Draft:Nico Cappelluti

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia




Nico Cappelluti
Born (1979-06-25) June 25, 1979 (age 45)
Rimini, Italy
NationalityItalian-American
Alma materUniversity of Bologna, Technical University of Munich
Known forX-ray astronomy, Active galactic nuclei, Cosmology, Large-scale structure
AwardsYCAA Prize Fellowship, INAF Fellowship, Marsden Prize
Scientific career
FieldsAstrophysics, Cosmology
InstitutionsUniversity of Miami
Doctoral advisorGünther Hasinger, Hans Böhringer

Nico Cappelluti (born June 25, 1979, in Rimini, Italy) is an Italian-American astrophysicist, professor, and entrepreneur. He is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Miami, known for his research on the cosmic X-ray background, active galactic nuclei (AGN), and the large-scale structure of the universe.


Education

[edit]

Cappelluti earned a Laurea in Astronomy from the University of Bologna in 2004. He received his Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy from the Technical University of Munich and the International Max Planck Research School in 2007.[1] His doctoral advisors were Günther Hasinger [de] and Hans Böhringer. His dissertation research focused on X-ray observations of cosmic structures.[2]

Career

[edit]

Following his doctorate, Cappelluti held research and prestigious fellowship positions at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany (2007–2010),[3] the National Institute for Astrophysics – Bologna Observatory in Italy (2010–2015),[4] and Yale University as a Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics Prize Fellow (2015–2017).[5] mentored by Meg Urry.


In 2018, he joined the University of Miami as an Assistant Professor and was later promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Physics. His work includes research in extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, and high-energy astrophysics. He uses data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, XMM-Newton, and the James Webb Space Telescope.[6] As of 2025, he has contributed to more than 160 peer-reviewed publications.[7]

Research

[edit]

Cappelluti’s research focuses on:

  • Multiwavelength surveys of AGN and galaxy clusters
  • Angular power spectrum analysis of the cosmic X-ray background
  • Theoretical and observational constraints on dark matter and early black hole formation
  • Correlation studies of cosmic infrared and X-ray background fluctuations

In 2024, his work received international media attention. Both *CNN* and *Science* Magazine reported on his research, which suggested that black holes may have emerged before the first stars and galaxies and could be connected to dark matter formation.[8][9]

Awards and honors

[edit]
  • Brian Geoffrey Marsden Prize, EAN (2010)[10]
  • INAF International Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010)[11]
  • Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics Prize Fellowship (2015)[12]
  • Finalist, ISSNAF Early Career Award (2016)[13]
  • Elected as AAAS Section D (Astronomy) Representative (2025–2027)[14]


Selected Publications

[edit]
  • Cappelluti, N., et al. (2009). "The XMM-Newton wide-field survey in the COSMOS field: the point-like X-ray source catalogue." Astronomy & Astrophysics, 497(2), 635–648. [1](https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200810794)
  • Cappelluti, N., et al. (2013). "Cross-correlating Cosmic Infrared and X-Ray Background Fluctuations: Evidence of Significant Black Hole Populations among the CIB Sources." The Astrophysical Journal, 769(1), 68. [2](https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/769/1/68)
  • Cappelluti, N., et al. (2017). "The Chandra COSMOS Legacy Survey: Energy Spectrum of the Cosmic X-Ray Background and Constraints on Undetected Populations." The Astrophysical Journal, 837(1), 19. [3](https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa5ea4)

Entrepreneurship

[edit]

In addition to his academic career, Cappelluti is active in entrepreneurship. He is the founder of two health-focused companies. Cozy Farm – Natural Products Store offers a curated selection of natural groceries, dietary supplements, and eco-friendly household products. Go Wise – Health and Wellness focuses on wellness education and health solutions aimed at promoting smarter, more informed lifestyle choices. Both ventures reflect his interest in combining science, health, and sustainability to improve consumer well-being.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "IMPRS: Student Class 2004–2007". International Max Planck Research School for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  2. ^ "NASA ADS – Publications by N. Cappelluti". SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  3. ^ "MPE PR – Nico Cappelluti". Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  4. ^ "INAF News – Nico Cappelluti". Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  5. ^ "Yale-Urry-Page – Nico Cappelluti". Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  6. ^ "CXC Workshop 2016: Nico Cappelluti White Paper" (PDF). Chandra X-ray Center. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  7. ^ "NASA ADS: Nico Cappelluti Publications". NASA ADS. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  8. ^ Strickland, Ashley (June 17, 2024). "Black holes may have emerged before the first stars and galaxies, new research suggests". CNN. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "Observations hint at new recipe for giant black holes". Science. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  10. ^ "Il premio Marsden a un ricercatore INAF". Media INAF. May 27, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  11. ^ "Nico Cappelluti – INAF Fellowship Presentation". YouTube. INAF. 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  12. ^ "Urry Lab – Nico Cappelluti". Yale University. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  13. ^ "Il giovane astronomo riminese Nico Cappelluti in finale ai premi ISSNAF". Rimini Today. November 3, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  14. ^ "Section D: Astronomy". AAAS. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
[edit]