LIGO Detects Gravitational Waves (MIT video)

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[RoosterRedux]

After a decades-long quest, The MIT-Caltech collaboration LIGO Laboratories has detected gravitational waves, opening a new era in our exploration of the universe.

Video Link

[sheik yerbouty]

Gravity is not just a good idea; it’s the law!

[DannyTN]

That's heavy!

[RoosterRedux]

Here's the article from MIT...

Almost 100 years ago today, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves -- ripples in the fabric of space-time that are set off by extremely violent, cosmic cataclysms in the early universe. With his knowledge of the universe and the technology available in 1916, Einstein assumed that such ripples would be "vanishingly small" and nearly impossible to detect. The astronomical discoveries and technological advances over the past century have changed those prospects.

Now for the first time, scientists in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration -- with a prominent role played by researchers at MIT and Caltech -- have directly observed the ripples of gravitational waves in an instrument on Earth. In so doing, they have again dramatically confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity and opened up a new way in which to view the universe.

But there's more: The scientists have also decoded the gravitational wave signal and determined its source. According to their calculations, the gravitational wave is the product of a collision between two massive black holes, 1.3 billion light years away -- a remarkably extreme event that has not been observed until now.

The researchers detected the signal with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) -- twin detectors carefully constructed to detect incredibly tiny vibrations from passing gravitational waves. Once the researchers obtained a gravitational signal, they converted it into audio waves and listened to the sound of two black holes spiraling together, then merging into a larger single black hole.

"We're actually hearing them go thump in the night," says Matthew Evans, an assistant professor of physics at MIT. "We're getting a signal which arrives at Earth, and we can put it on a speaker, and we can hear these black holes go, 'Whoop.' There's a very visceral connection to this observation. You're really listening to these things which before were somehow fantastic."

Now for the first time, scientists in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration -- with a prominent role played by researchers at MIT and Caltech -- have directly observed the ripples of gravitational waves in an instrument on Earth. In so doing, they have again dramatically confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity and opened up a new way in which to view the universe.

But there's more: The scientists have also decoded the gravitational wave signal and determined its source. According to their calculations, the gravitational wave is the product of a collision between two massive black holes, 1.3 billion light years away -- a remarkably extreme event that has not been observed until now.

The researchers detected the signal with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) -- twin detectors carefully constructed to detect incredibly tiny vibrations from passing gravitational waves. Once the researchers obtained a gravitational signal, they converted it into audio waves and listened to the sound of two black holes spiraling together, then merging into a larger single black hole.

"We're actually hearing them go thump in the night," says Matthew Evans, an assistant professor of physics at MIT. "We're getting a signal which arrives at Earth, and we can put it on a speaker, and we can hear these black holes go, 'Whoop.' There's a very visceral connection to this observation. You're really listening to these things which before were somehow fantastic."

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[ctdonath2]

[RoosterRedux]

Another great video...MAJOR Discovery: Scientists announce finding Gravitational Waves confirming Einstein's theory

[GeronL]

I always thought LIGO was an interesting project.

[Delta 21]

If its a wave it is repeatable and can be detected again. Or did they know when the first one was coming? It is an anomaly in time/space, you know.

[Lou L]

Any Freeper AND theoretical physicists care to speculate what implications this discovery might have? While I have a basic understanding of relativity, it took many readings and years to digest. Gravity waves seem to make sense, but I don’t know what we can do with this information.

[Red Badger]

[dp0622]

didn’t
understand
this

at

all

:) God bless the genius FReepers

[Red Badger]

[BenLurkin]

Excellent. The discovery of gravity particles can’t be very far behind.

[Red Badger]

One would think that due to super novas, black holes and such that there would be gravitational waves all over the place, almost constantly passing by us.................

[Red Badger]

It means that somebody is gonna get a Nobel Prize..............

[noiseman]

I wonder if they could have accomplished this more simply by just measuring the environment near the First Wookie. Anything that massive must have a noticeable effect on the local gravitational field.

[RoosterRedux]

You're making it too complicated.

Here...this will explain it clearly.;-)

[Red Badger]

But there's more: The scientists have also decoded the gravitational wave signal and determined its source. According to their calculations, the gravitational wave is the product of a collision between two massive black holes, 1.3 billion light years away -- a remarkably extreme event that has not been observed until now.

Now they can determine where they can look to see some really neat stuff happening, instead of just accidentally finding it...............

[dp0622]

root beer just burst out of my mouth lol!

what the @#$@#$ is that?!?!?! :)

[Rennes Templar]

The ocean is detecting the moon’s gravitational waves every day.