‘Non-discovery’ of space-time ripples opens door to birth of the Universe

The Times ^ | 8/20/2009 | Mark Henderson

[bruinbirdman]

Scientists have peered further back in time than ever before using instruments designed to search for a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein almost a century ago but not yet proven to exist.

An American observatory hunting for ripples in space and time called gravitational waves has produced its most significant results yet, despite not having directly detected any.

Tycho's Supernova

The “non-discovery” offers insights into the state of the Universe just 60 seconds into its existence. Previous research has been unable to look back in time further than about 380,000 years after the big bang.

The new window on the dawn of time has been opened by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), a network of three detectors that have been seeking evidence of gravitational waves since 2005.

These waves, which are believed to stretch and squeeze space and time as they pass, were predicted by Einstein in his theory of relativity. Violent events, such as a supernova explosion or the collision of two black holes, should make the biggest and most detectable waves. While their existence is accepted by astrophysicists, they have never been directly detected. LIGO has not yet found any gravitational waves either, and this has important implications for astrophysics and cosmology.

Certain theoretical models of what happened in the first moments of the cosmos predict that gravitational waves should be visible in LIGO’s data. As none have been detected, the “non-findings” narrow down possible explanations for the growth of the Universe.

The research, which is published in the journal Nature , also offers proof that gravitational-wave observatories will open up new horizons for astronomy, allowing scientists to examine aspects of the cosmos that have previously been hidden from view, such as supernovas and black holes. The first 380,000 years after the big

[r9etb]

A non discovery making headlines. :)

Probably the most famous non-discovery in modern science was the Michelson Morley experiment, which was supposed to detect the presence of the "ether." They discovered nothing.... and from that finding, Einstein formulated his theory of Special Relativity.

[El Gato]

or even further back to the birth of Joan Rivers.

Where they might see Helen Thomas changing her diaper.

[Tucker39]

“the logical proof for God’s existence!”

I wish I could be confident that you are right, but my knowledge of most of these atronomer/physicist types is that about 999 out of 1000 of them are anti-God heathens.

IMHO they are more likely attempting to prove the NON-existence of God. They will eventually be proven fools, but it may not be until they appear at the Great White Throne Judgement.

[El Gato]

Aha... Now we can work on star drive technology to surf the grav waves.

That's going to be difficult if there are none.

[The Cajun]

An American observatory hunting for ripples in space and time called gravitational waves

Well-l-l-l-l-l, since we needed something to explain the lack of mass to maintain galaxy shape (Dark matter) and we needed something to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe (Dark Energy), all we need now to explain the lack of gravitational waves is Dark Ripples. (/Sarcasm)

[mnehring]

What I’ve always wondered is, if scientists could “peer back in time” to one nanosecond into the existence of the universe and discovered a mirrored surface which was perfectly aligned toward the scientists, what would that mirror be reflecting?

Well, considering the reflected light would take just as long to return, you probably wouldn't see it if it were at that point. The light reflected from us would have to reach the mirror, then reflect back, doubling the time frame of the distance you are looking at. One of those fun space-time things to contemplate but only a few in the world can calculate (I wouldn't even pretend to try..)

[17th Miss Regt]

Actually, 300,000 km/sec.

[allmost]

Yes. The concept of ether isn't completely dead though. It might have to be revived if (when) the realization that gravity, being a function of space-time, cannot be quantified along the lines of physical theory sets in. Not in the classical sense of course but vacuum pressure is real and eases some of the inconsistencies in modern models such as expansion and gravity as a monopole. Not going to see the discovery of a graviton in my lifetime. Just my opinion.

[OldDeckHand]

"The big bang idea is bad physics and bad theology rolled into a package."

Not at all. The Big Bang theory doesn't attempt to explain why the bang occurred, only that it did occur.

When Lemaître, riffing off early work by Einstein postulated what came to be known as the Big Bang, he makes no attempts - and neither does anyone else that I'm aware - to speculate or hypothesis what (or who) may have been the impetus for the bang.

[Boiler Plate]

All I want to know is, when do we get JetPacks?!!

[2harddrive]

Nope. I can prove God’s existence myself. I will discuss it on these pages in the morning. TTYL.

[OldDeckHand]

"All I want to know is, when do we get JetPacks?!!"

In just a few short months, you too can own your own JetPack...

Kiwi inventor launches 'world's first practical jetpack'

[taxesareforever]

“The “non-discovery” offers insights into the state of the Universe just 60 seconds into its existence.”

And what do they see? I’ll bet they see an empty and formless earth just like the Bible says.

[rdl6989]

Ping.

[Wuli]

Here is a thought.

An observation is only as good as the instrument used and the perspective/vantage-point at the point of observation.

One could have a very tiny, microscopic vantage point and a very narrow idea of what to look for and how to look for it, and with the best instrument designed around those limits produce a ton of “data” which, in the end, may prove, in a sort of circular logic - nothing more than that our observation instruments work because they obtain what we designed them to obtain, from our limitations of knowledge and perspective/vantage point and using the huge theories we have built with those limitations.

I truly believe that whenever we are finally “star travelers” that many of our theories and assumptions about the universe, its age, how creation continues and many other things will be blown away by knowledge gained in getting to the stars and what we actually find there.

Much of astronomical science has less hard first hand facts and more theory than even the man-made global warming hoax.

[MetaThought]

Pinglist Ping

[Habibi]

“THIS could be the forum to discuss the logical proof for God’s existence!.”

Nah, you’re trying to come up with some sort of unified theory to rationalize the natural and supernatural aspects of the universe. Einstein tried to develop a unified theory of just the natural universe, and was unsuccessful (and he was smart). What chance do you think you have?

[the invisib1e hand]

‘Non-discovery’ of space-time ripples opens door to birth of the Universe

Just show us the certificate.

[bruinbirdman]

"Probably the most famous non-discovery in modern science was ?"

yitbos

[Wuli]

Here is a thought.

An observation is only as good as the instrument used and the perspective/vantage-point at the point of observation.

One could have a very tiny, microscopic vantage point and a very narrow idea of what to look for and how to look for it, and with the best instrument designed around those limits produce a ton of “data” which, in the end, may prove, in a sort of circular logic - nothing more than that our observation instruments work because they obtain what we designed them to obtain, from our limitations of knowledge and perspective/vantage point and using the huge theories we have built with those limitations.

I truly believe that whenever we are finally “star travelers” that many of our theories and assumptions about the universe, its age, how creation continues and many other things will be blown away by knowledge gained in getting to the stars and what we actually find there.

Much of astronomical science has less hard first hand facts and more theory than even the man-made global warming hoax.

I believe that ideas like “ripples in space-time” are due precisely to the limitations of such a microscopic perspective of our tiny vantage point and our limited real knowledge. I think it is more about how things we don’t fully understand appear to us, than how they actually are.