Gravitational Waves

Gravitational Waves

Gravitational Waves

Somewhere very far away, a long time ago, two black holes smashed into each other.

One was around 36 times more massive than the Sun, and the other 29 times more massive.

So devastatingly powerful was this event that it did something that might not even be obvious to most of us: it sent a sort of ‘quake’ through the fabric of spacetime.

The power radiated by the combining of the black holes is estimated to be more than the combined light power of all the stars and galaxies in the observable universe.

This ripple event is something known as a ‘gravitational wave’ and we’ve known about them for a very long time ~ sort of.

Einstein predicted their existence long ago as a consequence of the theory of general relativity, but up until now we’ve never had a direct observation of them.

A team of researchers from an international collaboration known as LIGO (Laser Interferometry Gravitational-Wave Observatory) seems to have been the first to observe.

Gravitational Waves

Using lasers, LIGO found a subtle stretching and squeezing of spacetime itself was going on. How this happened is actually a remarkably simple concept:

First they shot a laser beam into a tunnel, that got split into two directions:

Here’s an ‘L’ shape to help you imagine the two tunnels it split into.

Next, once both lasers reached the end of their respective tunnels, they bounced back towards the spot where they split so that they could recombine.

A way to think about this is both lasers racing towards the lower-left corner of the ‘L’ again.

Here’s the rub:

Light can be thought of as a wave, with ripples and peaks etc. The waveform of these two laser beams, when combined add into each other.

If the two laser beams have the same wavelength (as they should if there’s no gravitational waves disturbing spacetime) the two split beams will recombine again into the original beam. It looks like this:

Gravitational Waves

If the two laser beams get somehow disturbed and the waves peak on one as the other crests, the resulting combined beam will be that they simply cancel out:

Gravitational Waves

So in the end, if the LIGO researchers detect alterations to their laser when the two beams recombine, they can tell if spacetime’s subtle ripples have morphed the lasers.

The consequences of this discovery are profound.

It, in a sense, opens up the universe to an entire new branch of physics: the universe of gravity.

Ever hear of dark matter? How about dark energy?

These two things are bound to get close scrutiny now as they’re both a part of what’s known as the ‘dark universe’ - basically neither phenomena interact with light (meaning one can’t see them), making it tough to learn much about them.

Yet much of the universe seems to be comprised of these ‘unseeable’ things.

Gravitational Waves

If this discovery holds up, there’s almost certainly a Nobel Prize in the works.

Why? They may have - and I do mean maybe, not did - well…

The folks at LIGO may have just illuminated the 96% of the universe that’s been invisible to our senses for so long. We’ll have to wait and see.

(Image credit: NASA, NSF/LIGO and Brews Ohare respectively)

More Posts from Nisaafai and Others

6 years ago

Jangan pernah berburuk sangka kepada Allah

Last 3 day in my town, the afternoon felt like so warm and I wondered that everyone in this town asked to a heavily rainy day. And finally after a long long long day that is like rounded by heatwave, this evening the sky was crying and the rain fall into the earth. Alhamdullilah

I stunned for a while under the market-roof and winnning inside that “ ouh knapa hujannya sekarang. Aku kan belum sampe rumah :(” and become miserable because I forgot brought rain coat. I decided to wait for a while until the rain dispassionate.

I stood in those place with a mid-age madam that brought double basket in her bycicle that full of dry corn and She shouted “ alhamdullilah ya Allah hujannya turun sekarang setwlah jagung ku kering semua” . After I heard that, i feel so blue and Now I understand . Tuhan sudah memilih doa mana yang di kabulkan duluan

Never give up. Everything will be okay at the right time. Ok

8 years ago

How to stop complaining ?

Everyone who read this please help me ! I've no clue how to force myself to stop complaining about my "partner" doing . He didn't make any mistake but for me its not right. Seem there was something wrong , not it wasn't wrong but , its like "everything gonna be okay" 😔

8 years ago

Damn want it 😔

FCE Rosario Castellanos Bookstore, Mexico City.
FCE Rosario Castellanos Bookstore, Mexico City.
FCE Rosario Castellanos Bookstore, Mexico City.
FCE Rosario Castellanos Bookstore, Mexico City.
FCE Rosario Castellanos Bookstore, Mexico City.

FCE Rosario Castellanos Bookstore, Mexico City.

6 years ago

Sukron kak danny

Jangan meninggalkan goresan pada hidup seseorang, apalagi melukai hatinya, apalagi jika ia seorang perempuan

- Danny Dzul Fikri

8 years ago

Subhanallah , so many sight-of-landscape to seeking every positive side of life (hikmah)

Menjadi Pembelajaran Berharga

Jika kamu pernah ditinggalkan, atau dikecewakan, atau tentang apapun yang membuat hubunganmu dengan seseorang menjadi tidak begitu semenyenangkan dahulu. Entah tentang pertamanan atau kisah cinta. Kemudian kamu melihatnya hari ini, orang itu tumbuh bahagia dan sukses bahkan mungkin kamu merasa dia segala lebih darimu. Lebih bahagia, lebih sukses, segala kelebihan yang membuatmu mungkin sedikit iri.

Maka, berbahagialah.

Sebab barangkali memang harus demikian ceritanya. Dan kamu adalah seseorang yang menjadi jalan baginya untuk mendapatkan apa yang dia dapatkan saat ini. Dan kamu adalah seseorang yang menjadi perantara pembelajaran-pembelajaran berharga yang berhasil dia ambil dalam hidupnya.

Meski, mungkin itu harus membuat hubunganmu dengannya menjadi tidak menyenangkan. Tapi bukan di situlah titik fokusnya. Melainkan tentang bagaimana setiap orang sebenarnya menjadi perantara orang lain dalam meniti takdirnya, memperoleh pemahaman dan pembelajaran hidupnya.

Seperti setiap hari kita bertemu dengan banyak orang, dari mulai pedagang di pasar, tukang parkir, supir bus, dan orang-orang yang tidak kita duga silih berganti. Barangkali, dari pertemuan tak terduga itulah pembelajaran hidup disematkan, juga takdir kita kemudian bekerja, dan bisa jadi berubah.

Jika kamu kemudian mengeluh dan bertanya-tanya mengapa dia bisa menjadi lebih dari kamu. Pertanyaan itu justru lebih layak ditanyakan ke dirimu sendiri, apakah kamu sudah berhasil mengambil pembelajaran dari kejadian yang menimpamu dan orang tersebut?

Jika dia berhasil, mengapa kamu belum juga menemukan pembelajaran itu?

©kurniawangunadi

8 years ago

Like I'm dying when i forced myself for more patient and less complaining 😔

5 years ago

Art of Grief

Well, recently I was moving on from someone that Ever I said as “Home”. It was ridiculous! But I promise to myself that Everything okay within 2 days. When the new week is coming, I should rise up and stand by my new rule. 

I realized that my day will cover of grief, pain, and insecurity. But we look up all of the terms from those all. The wave of emotion, unstable mood, all of the above will hug me tight. 

As my heart began to long more and more for the life I envisioned, I started researched, reading all genres of books, planning new projects, and Less then 2 days I moved. 

But, This is the way of Grief. She comes in waves, and if you listen to her often, she’s gentle as can be. She’ll guide you to what you need, and if you honor her requests, she’ll continue to set you free over time. 

Be tough, Be brave, and cheer up, The life will so delightful in the next day :) 

Faizennisaa

5 years ago

Alhamdullilah Ya Allah, terima kasih atas caramu yang selalu senantiasa menegur hamba untuk selalu bersyukur. Alhamdullilah alhamdullilah dan semoga Allah selalu melimpahkan Dr. Kebaikan dunia dan akhirat aminnn :))

“Bersyukur”

Saya menemukan bahwa ini adalah satu cara penting untuk bahagia. Apalagi di era sosial media seperti saat ini. Terkadang, misalnya, saat sedang scrolling Instagram dan melihat teman-teman kita udah punya ini dan itu, mendapatkan ini dan itu, hati menjadi gundah dan tidak jarang berubah menjadi iri dan dengki. Padahal, kita juga sudah punya ini dan itu yang belum tentu orang lain miliki; dan mungkin kita juga sudah mencapai titik tertentu yang orang lain masih berharap untuk mencapainya.

Rezeki manusia itu tidak ada yang sama tapi Allah Maha Adil. Saya diberi ini dan Anda diberi itu. Anda diberi sekarang dan saya nanti. Kita diberi sesuai dengan kebutuhan masing-masing; baik dari segi apa yang diberi maupun kapan diberi. 

Rumput tetangga memang selalu tampak lebih hijau, tapi mungkin kita lupa bahwa dinding rumah kita lebih kokoh dari rumah tetangga. Bersyukur.

5 years ago
Bismillahirrohmanirrohim :) 

Bismillahirrohmanirrohim :) 

Mari mulai aja dahulu 

5 years ago

Recently I found my ultimate self-healing, is that photography. Yes, basically I loved seeing something awesome, gergorious, landscapes and potraits. This is my precious golden hours. By riding my motorcycle I catch up this landscape in the Highway. Enjoy.

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nisaafai - nisaafai 😀
nisaafai 😀

Allah -Science-Allah-Art-Allah-Techno-Allah- My Ultimate daily 😀

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