Scientists to announce the detection of gravitational waves

10 February 2016

The discovery could revolutionize physics and astronomy by providing researchers with a completely new way to observe the universe.

According to new reports, researchers are about to announce the detection of gravitational waves, or also referred to as ‘ripples in the fabric of spacetime’. This discovery could completely change everything we know about the universe, rewriting science books in the process.

Around one hundred years ago, Albert Einstein predicted the so-called ‘ripples in the fabric of spacetime’, even though they have never (until now apparently) been observed directly by researchers.

According to scientists at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) system – which was built in order to detect the smallest vibrations that passing gravitational waves can give off – a new update set to be announced this week could prove the existence of the never before seen gravitational waves.

“People are hugely excited. The rumor is that it’s a whopping big signal, in other words, it’s unambiguous, and that is fantastic,” said Pedro Ferreira, professor of astrophysics at Oxford University, and author of the 2014 book, The Perfect Theory: a century of geniuses and the battle over general relativity.

Finding ‘ripples in the fabric of spacetime’ would mean a completely new way of looking into the furthest and oldest spots in our universe. The mysterious waves are actually ‘expelled’ out of places like black holes from the beginning of the universe, and having the ability to study them could provide researchers with extremely valuable data about the early universe and its creation.

For weeks, rumors have been floating around the internet suggesting researchers might finally have detected gravitational waves, but no one was sure until now when researchers confirmed that they were to make an announcement in the next couple of days. This preannouncement has scientists all around the planet extremely excited since a discovery of this caliber is unprecedented.

The revolutionary discovery could help scientists observe parts of the universe that have remained in the ‘dark’, hidden from conventional telescopes that use visible light, radio waves and X-rays. However, not only might the discovery allow scientists to better explore the universe, it might also allow them to see black holes ‘directly’ for the first time, something that could help them unravel the mysteries surrounding dark matter, the invisible material that is believed to make up about 80 percent of the known universe.

“This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first publication of Albert Einstein’s prediction of the existence of gravitational waves,” the release notes. “With interest in this topic piqued by the centennial, the group will discuss their ongoing efforts to observe gravitational waves.”

The event believed to announce the detection of ‘ripples in the fabric of spacetime’ will be hosted on Thursday afternoon UK time, at the National Press Club in Washington DC.

More information can be found by clicking here, and visiting the LIGO website.

SOURCE