How do scientists detect gravitational waves?
Quick Answer
Scientists detect tiny stretches in space using laser interferometers such as LIGO. These instruments can measure changes smaller than a proton’s width.
The Full Story
Gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein in 1916 as ripples in spacetime produced by accelerating massive objects. The first direct detection came on 14 September 2015, when the LIGO observatories observed waves from two colliding black holes. LIGO uses laser beams in long arms to detect unimaginably small changes in length caused by passing waves. Later detections and the 2017 neutron-star merger observed with light and gravitational waves together opened a new era of astronomy. This field lets scientists study collisions and objects that are otherwise invisible.
Key Facts
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"How we hear the universe collide"