First Detection of Gravitiational Waves
Albert Einstein’s theory of General Relativity was proved correct, once again!
The existence of Gravitational Waves (GW) is one of the predictions of the 100 years old General Theory of Relativity (GR) by Albert Einstein. Last September (14-09-2015) the two Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) facilities made the first-ever detection of GW, which was the result of the merging “dance” between two Black Holes in a galaxy 1.3 billion light-years away from us.
This historic discovery also marks the first-ever direct detection of Black Holes, which is the final stage in the life of massive stars.
The announcement received a worldwide recognition, as in a highly anticipated press conference in Washington DC, David Reitze (executive director of the LIGO Laboratory) said:
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have detected gravitational waves. We did it!”
More information & media coverage:
Scientific Papers: “Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger” Published in PRL116, 061102 (2016)
LIGO detection portal: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/detection
Listen to the “sound” of the two black holes colliding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyDcTbR-kEA
Gravitational Waves Explained (via PhD comics-video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GbWfNHtHRg
Nature Magazine: http://www.nature.com/news/einstein-s-gravitational-waves-found-at-last-1.19361?WT.mc_id=FBK_NatureNews
Science Magazine: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/gravity-waves-black-holes-verify-einsteins-prediction?mode=pick&context=168
