| Abstract |
Rare isotopes play a critical role in a variety of astrophysical sites. Despite
their fleeting existence of often less then a second, they imprint their properties
onto the chemical composition of the universe, and the properties of stellar
explosions. Progress has been made recently in astronomical observations of the
signatures of rare isotopes and the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. Similar
progress is imminent in understanding the relevant properties of rare isotopes,
owing to new accelerator facilities in the US, Europe, and Japan. I will review the
important role that rare isotopes play in the cosmos and discuss some related
experiments performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Facility at Michigan
State University.
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