When the densest stars in the universe (neutron star or neutron star-black hole pairs) orbit each other, they get closer due to emitted gravitational radiation. Neutron stars have a solid exterior crust that may shatter in this extreme encounters. In this project, you will explore whether the star can shatter like a glass does when a singer hits its resonant note. This depends on the properties of dense matter and, in particular, on the symmetry energy parameter that is predicted from nuclear physics. Furthermore, if detectors can see gamma rays from such a shattering process just before measuring the gravitational waves emission from the merger, we may find the resonant frequency at which the crust shatters. This could potentially help constrain the properties of the crust and nuclei, bridging the gap between 20 orders of magnitude in spatial extent.Â