Gravitational Waves Discovered for the First Time!

On Feb 11, 2016 Scientists at LIGO announced that they had detected gravitational waves for the first time. In the press conference heard round the world, they showed the tell-tale waveforms indicating that huge event in which two black holes merged 1.3 billion lightyears away, had created waves that passed by the LIGO detectors and were finally heard. Einstein predicted the existence of these waves in his 1915 theory of general relativity. But it took a long time for us to come up with the technology to detect them. For one, we had to invent lasers! This video discusses why this discovery is important, what it means for astronomy, and what’s next. If you can’t tell, I’m very excited.

Creator: Dianna Cowern

Warping spacetime animation: Kyle Norby
Visuals: NASA, LIGO, SXS, R. Hurt, T. Pyle, CalTech, MIT

Music: APM and YouTube

[EugeneKhutoryansky]

It will be interesting to see what we will find once our gravitational wave detectors are more sensitive.

[snookzification]

LIGO, Cern, Hubble...what a time to be alive.

[erickcapitanio]

when the waves compress space, do they stretch time and vice-versa? if so, then would one laser come back before the other?

[physicsdemos]

Dianna, Thank you for sharing your infectious excitement for physics discovery, which gushes unrestrained from this video. You, and your videos, embody the beloved Henri Poincare quote: "The scientist does not study nature because it is useful, he studies it because he delights in it. If science were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing..." You're a treasure for science outreach, and you're making a tremendous difference. I am honored to add your videos to my playlists. Please keep up the great work. Boyd Edwards, Professor of Physics, Utah State University. P. S. If you see Emily Calandrelli, please say "hi." She was a student in my honors physics class at West Virginia University.

[terryendicott]

So you are saying that in space nobody can hear you scream, but they can hear you wave?

[nickdiamond]

This is the most comprehensive description of spacetime and gravitational waves I've seen. Like the ball in the blanket.

[brandonhall]

This is one of the best videos I've seen on gravitational waves. I thought you really explained them in and understandable way while also showing why their discovery is important. Perhaps You and PBS SpaceTime could do a collaboration in the future.

[odalesaylor]

Loved it. Some really good examples that helped me understand it even more. Hurray!

[SteveGouldinSpain]

...so what your saying is whereas thanks to seismometers we've been able to map things like the magma chamber under Yellowstone and detect nuclear tests in North Korea, gravitational waves will let us map massive phenomena that take place a really long way away from the earth. That's cool. Erm, stupid question - does this mean the hunt is on for the existence of gravitational particles? If so, what sort of energy levels (and hence accelerator cost) will be required?

[dangelnut]

i just love your passion for all this and its really really interesting.

[Overonator]

How did they come to the conclusion it was 2 massive black holes?

[mickblock]

Even though I don't completely understand gravity waves, 2:34 did give me goosebumps.

[Symsxx]

What's the speed of a gravitation wave ?

[NeedsEvidence]

3:09 "No--no words. No words to describe it. Poetry! They should've sent a poet. So beautiful. So beautiful... I had no idea."

[codered]

How can I like this like a billion times!!!?! *excited*

[aylinerik]

You are just like a female Vsauce! (I love your vids)

[phenomenalphysics]

I already love physics so much!😍❤️❤️❤️

[dailysurprisevids]

These kinds of discoveries are so inspiring.

[vadzimdambrouski]

and at the same time some people still believe that the earth is flat. crazy!

[BlameItOnGreg]

The graphic at 1:43 would be more clear/accurate if the grid compressed and expanded with the movement of the mirrors, so that they didn't move relative to there position on the grid.