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We present results from a study of the Supernova Remnant (SNR) population in a sample of six nearby galaxies (NGC 2403, NGC 3077, NGC 4214, NGC 4449, NGC 4395 and NGC 5204) based on Chandra archival data. We have detected 244 discrete X-ray sources down to a limiting flux of 10^{-15} erg/s. We identify 37 X-ray selected thermal SNRs based on their X-ray colors or spectra, 30 of which are new discoveries. In many cases the X-ray classification is confirmed based on counterparts with SNRs identified in other wavelengths. Three of the galaxies in our sample (NGC 4214, NGC 4395 and NGC 5204) are studied for the first time, resulting in the discovery of 13 thermal SNRs. We discuss the properties (luminosity, temperature, density) of the X-ray detected SNRs in the galaxies of our sample in order to address their dependence on their environment. We find that X-ray selected SNRs in irregular galaxies appear to be more luminous than those in spirals. We attribute this to the lower metalicities and therefore more massive progenitor stars of irregular galaxies or the higher local densities of the ISM. We also discuss the X-ray selected SNR populations in the context of the Star Formation Rate of their host galaxies. A comparison of the numbers of observed luminous X-ray selected SNRs with those expected based on the luminosity functions of X-ray SNRs in the MCs and M33 suggest different luminosity distributions between the SNRs in spiral and irregular galaxies with the latter tending to have flatter distributions., Comment: 56 pages, 14 figures, 26 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ

Results from regular monitoring of relativistic compact binaries like PSR 1913+16 are consistent with the dominant (quadrupole) order emission of gravitational waves (GWs). We show that observations associated with the binary black hole central engine of blazar OJ 287 demand the inclusion of gravitational radiation reaction effects beyond the quadrupolar order. It turns out that even the effects of certain hereditary contributions to GW emission are required to predict impact flare timings of OJ 287. We develop an approach that incorporates this effect into the binary black hole model for OJ~287. This allows us to demonstrate an excellent agreement between the observed impact flare timings and those predicted from ten orbital cycles of the binary black hole central engine model. The deduced rate of orbital period decay is nine orders of magnitude higher than the observed rate in PSR 1913+16, demonstrating again the relativistic nature of OJ 287's central engine. Finally, we argue that precise timing of the predicted 2019 impact flare should allow a test of the celebrated black hole "no-hair theorem" at the 10% level., 24 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ