Theory Nexus

In 1915, Albert Einstein introduced general relativity, a revolutionary theory that described gravity as a curvature in the fabric of spacetime. According to Einstein, massive objects like the Earth, Sun, and even galaxies warp the fabric of spacetime, causing smaller objects like planets and stars to move in curved paths. However, Einstein's theory predicted something even more profound: the existence of gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime that propagate at the speed of light. For decades, scientists searched for evidence of gravitational waves, but they eluded detection until September 14, 2015, when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected the signature of two merging black holes. The discovery of gravitational waves marked a new era in astrophysics, allowing scientists to explore the universe in an entirely new way. But what exactly are gravitational waves, and why are they so significant? In this article, we will explore the physics behind ...