Gravitational Waves

By Michael Shi
What are Gravitational Waves?
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, particularly those with strong
gravitational fields. These waves were first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 as a consequence of his general theory of relativity.
According to this theory, massive objects, like planets or black holes, can distort the spacetime around them.

When such objects accelerate or experience strong gravitational forces, they emit energy in the form of gravitational waves. These
waves propagate through space, carrying information about the motion of the massive objects that generated them. However,
gravitational waves are extremely weak, and it took until September 14, 2015, for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory (LIGO) to make the first direct detection of gravitational waves, confirming a key prediction of Einstein's theory. Since
then, gravitational wave astronomy has opened up a new way to study the universe, providing insights into phenomena like black hole
mergers, neutron star collisions, and other extreme cosmic events.
Gravitational Waves
How does the emergence of new technologies change the way we see the universe?
How does the emergence of new technologies change the way we see the universe?