Merging Neutron Stars, Short Gamma-ray Bursts, r-process Nucleosynthesis; and Gravitational Wave Detection

The theoretical ideas that led to the expectation that neutron star mergers produce  r-process elements  and short gamma ray bursts are reviewed. The question of why such events appear to  produce shorter , less energetic GRBs (as opposed to the longer ones) is discussed, as well as the role that gravity-wave detectors can play in testing suggested answers to this question.