Breakthrough of the Century: Scientists Detect Gravitational Waves

Scientists at the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) have detected the gravitational waves from this enormous, larger black hole being born. The collision occurred roughly 1.3 billion years ago, with gravitational waves being the “sound” of the collision.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have detected gravitational waves”.

“It was very stormy, and we’re feeling the distant ripples”, Kennefick said.

Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a theoretical physicist and Assistant Professor in Utah State University’s Physics Department, explained how you can covert the signal from these gravitational waves into sound waves that we can hear.

The worldwide hunt for proof of gravitational waves began more than a quarter of a century ago and culminated in the construction of detectors in Louisiana and Washington State. “We did it”, declared David Reitze of Caltech, LIGO’s executive director, during a Washington, D.C. press conference. They were able to detect remarkably small vibrations from passing gravitational waves. “This one really helped”, said one user. Now we can listen to objects that don’t emit light, like black holes.

To check for gravitational waves the detector will split a laser beam and project the twin beams along these arms till they hit mirrors at the end.

Gravitational waves, first theorized by Albert Einstein in 1916 as part of his theory of general relativity, are extraordinarily faint ripples in space-time, the hard-to-fathom fourth dimension that combines time with the familiar up, down, left and right. But until now scientists had found only indirect evidence of their existence.

Wave after wave of them. “We may even see relics of the very early universe, during the Big Bang, and the most extreme energies possible”, Hawking said. “Scientists are hoping that the current discovery will accelerate the decision-making process on this”.

“This is the holy grail of science”, said Rochester Institute of Technology astrophysicist Carlos Lousto. He said the detection would allow scientists a new window into seeing and hearing cosmic events that otherwise might not be detected.

“It’s great to finally be able to tell everybody”, said Cornish, 47, speaking in his native Australian accent, standing in line at The Daily coffee shop. A gravitational wave would be a ripple in the fabric of space and time. It stirs space and time, generating waves that radiate at the speed of light.

Gravity wave astronomy could track down unseen supernova explosions, neutrons stars colliding, even the big band that started the universe.