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In February 2016 news of gravitational waves went round the world. But what are these waves sometimes described as ripples in spacetime? To find out let's go back over a century to a time when Albert Einstein was completing the work that would change our view of the Universe.

Gravitational Waves – What Are They?

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Thanks for that explanation Mona. I've been seeing information about gravitational waves, but didn't get what they were.

In fact, even with you very well written article, my brain is still mulling it over LOL!!!

And I loved that image of Einstein surfing too!


Deanna Joseph

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Deanna, I'm not surprised that gravitational waves give you a brainache. It's taken me quite a while to think about things like that without my head spinning.

On one of the courses I did for my MSc, the extended essay topic I chose was something to do with string theory. (A choice I had time to regret.) I read Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe, actually more than once. It would explain some things in a logical, well-written discussion. I don't think he could have put it more elegantly. But I realized the problem wasn't in the writing, but that my brain just couldn't deal with the ideas.

BTW I persevered and wrote the essay and was quite pleased with myself. But I don't think I could say anything sensible about it now.

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ESA's LISA Pathfinder was launched in December. (LISA = Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) It is not itself a laser interferometer to detect gravitational waves in space. It's testing an essential part of the technology needed to launch such a mission. On Monday (Feb 23rd) the two test masses it's carrying were released to move only under the effect of gravity.

Click for an explanation of what LISA Pathfinder is trying to do - there is also a short video.

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From Astronomers Without Borders, a poem by Harley White about gravitational waves.

Is space-time a fabric that stretches and strains,
like a grass harp ruffling across the great plains,
when the force of a huge body in motion
makes waves akin to the billowing ocean?

LIGO’s antennae have finally disclosed
those waves gravitational Einstein proposed
that travel along with the swiftness of light
and can’t be obstructed in their spatial flight.

A faint fleeting whoop is the sound that was heard,
resembling the chirp of a faraway bird.
So the Nobel winner, with brilliant foresight
a century past, was again proven right!

In Einstein encomium much overdue,
we praise and applaud what he already knew
from his relativity theory acclaimed,
that pillar of physics for which he is famed.

The presence of mass as a part of his theme
makes space and time curve, in that elegant scheme.
And this is indeed how gravity functions,
not as a force, but as cosmic conjunctions.

Two black holes colliding, a billion light-years
removed, gave a sign that brought triumphant cheers
from the LIGO team, with a soft rising tone
making Einstein’s ineffable notion known.

The project cost umpteen millions of dollars.
Astronomers seemed the leeriest scholars
and felt the investment would be a big waste,
not trusting the models on which it was based.

Miles of steel tubing in L-shaped position
of vacant chambers were used in the mission
for gauging expansions and fluctuations,
with an outcome exceeding expectations.

The breakthrough implies that stargazers can peer
not just with the eye but moreover may hear
stellar storms bending space and changing time’s flow
in colossal activities to and fro.

Yes ripples in space-time were validated,
as Einstein had long ago calculated.
Researchers gave credit to LIGO, although
he is probably saying, “I told you so!”

~ Harley White

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In February 2016 LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) announced that it had made two detections of gravitational waves - ripples in space-time. Yesterday it was announced that a third detection has now been made. As in the first two cases the detected waves were generated when two black holes collided.


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