Gravitational waves discovery: The facts explained

Here are five things you need to know about gravitational waves, following the discovery unveiled on Thursday
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Feb 2016, 08:33 BST
Updated 12th Feb 2016, 08:49 BST
A technician inspects one of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory's (LIGO) core optics (mirrors). Picture: AFPA technician inspects one of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory's (LIGO) core optics (mirrors). Picture: AFP
A technician inspects one of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory's (LIGO) core optics (mirrors). Picture: AFP

1. The waves have nothing to do with the sea

Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime - the mathematical model that combines both three-dimensional space and one-dimensional time to plot events.

Theoretically, they are generated by cataclysmic cosmic events such as the collision of black holes or super-dense neutron stars.

Student Muzi Li at the Institute of Gravitational Research at Glasgow University holding a phone that shows a computer simulation of gravity waves. Picture: PAStudent Muzi Li at the Institute of Gravitational Research at Glasgow University holding a phone that shows a computer simulation of gravity waves. Picture: PA
Student Muzi Li at the Institute of Gravitational Research at Glasgow University holding a phone that shows a computer simulation of gravity waves. Picture: PA

2. No one had physical proof they exist

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Proposed by Albert Einstein in 1916 as part of his General Theory of Relativity, their existence had never been directly detected.

Scientists have been looking for them ever since and about 40 years ago scientists from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States joined the search.

Experts from the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology led the design, construction and operation of the NSF-funded facilities.

Student Muzi Li at the Institute of Gravitational Research at Glasgow University holding a phone that shows a computer simulation of gravity waves. Picture: PAStudent Muzi Li at the Institute of Gravitational Research at Glasgow University holding a phone that shows a computer simulation of gravity waves. Picture: PA
Student Muzi Li at the Institute of Gravitational Research at Glasgow University holding a phone that shows a computer simulation of gravity waves. Picture: PA

3. The machines that found them are huge

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) is a system of two identical detectors carefully constructed to detect tiny vibrations from passing gravitational waves.

Each is a laser interferometer inside an L-shaped ultra-high vacuum tunnel and operated in unison to detect gravitational waves. One arm of the L alone is 4km long.

The twin detectors are in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington, but research and analysis of data collected is carried out by a global group of scientists.

4. The proof is out there

Scientists working with Ligo confirmed they had directly observed gravitational waves that resulted from merging black holes apporximately 1.3bn light-years away and 1.3bn years ago.

5. Space enthusiasts are excited

Astrophysicist and author Ethan Siegel said the announcement will mean that “for the first time, we may be developing eyes for examining the Universe in a way that no living creature has ever examined it before”.

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