LIGO Detects Gravitational Waves

After a decades-long quest, The MIT-Caltech collaboration LIGO Laboratories has detected gravitational waves, opening a new era in our exploration of the universe.

Produced by MIT Video Productions and MIT News Office
Producer/Editor: Bill Lattanzi
Footage courtesy of: Hans Peter Bischof; California Institute of Technology; Jet Propulsion Laboratory; LIGO, A Passion for Understanding, by Kai Staats; MIT; National Science Foundation; Roger Smith; Virginia Trimble, widow of Joseph Weber; Wikipedia Commons

[MarChlAnn]

being alive to witness this discovery is a great honor

[AFastidiousCuber]

In response to ignorant people in comments, the main reasons why this is a big deal:

*1*. It is the last confirmed prediction of general relativity.

*2*. Gravitational waves were thought to be impossible to detect for over 100 years, and by Einstein.

*3*. Many people have dedicated their entire careers, and millions of dollars to this discovery.

*4*. Despite the fact that the waves exactly coincided with the predictions made by general relativity, if, in the future, we detect inconsistencies it could give us clues to new modified theories of gravity, or other theories.

*5*. If we develop more sensitive gravitational wave detectors we will be able to detect events happening within the Milky Way, and it will basically open up a whole new field of astronomy and observational physics.

[Thekomokoro]

I'm hoping for a time when this kind of discoveries will be on the top of the trending list in YouTube.

[tolbryntheix]

Albert Einstein found this out around 100 years ago, and he did it by just observing nature and thinking about it, without having the tools to backup his theories by measurements. Just goes to show again how much of a genius he was.

[EugeneKhutoryansky]

This is great news. Obviously, you had this video completed long in advance, since the announcement about the discovery was just made a few minutes ago, and the press conference is still going on as I type this message.

[brandonwiebe]

I'm not actually fat, there is just a surplus of gravitational waves around me.

[InsightsInterviews]

Unbelievable achievement. Very honored to have had all three LIGO winners on our podcast.

[jerzykiler]

I’m definitely proud of the people who made it happen. Huge Kudos.

[a.campos]

Can't stop talking about this huge achievement with family, friends and colleges :) Congratulations.

[mishanya]

I love how the scientists use the glorious metric system at first and then translate it for people who don't know it :D

[GASTROMONKCOM]

CALTECH & MIT creators, thank you for having the vision to build this machine. I look forward to learning more about what you see in our universe. It is quite fitting that a very understandable / elegantly designed measuring device confirms the existence of gravitational waves.

[theColJessep]

I learned about the theory behind this experiment in school as a young man. Honestly, I was doubtful it would be possible to prove this during my lifetime. Thanks to all the scientists who made this possible!

[swagkuz]

This is an honour for me to witness. What a time to be alive. These people are so passionate and determined at what they are doing, it is honestly so inspiring. Keep up the work, guys. And oh, shout out to my boy Einstein, I know you are looking down smiling. Incredible!

[insiadurrani]

love the eastern beat in the background

[idlewild]

When I was young, we just had Six Flags and Disney. Kids today have LIGOLand too.

[abdelrahmangamalmahdy]

This event was detected September 14, 2015. Now it's February 11, 2016 !! they spent 4 month doing the calculations !!

[railroadisolationist]

0:42 dude looks like mike and Walter combined

[ericcg]

Woah! Last year, people from LIGO came over to WSU to tell us what they were doing. Awesome to see them succeed!

[winistan]

Respect to you guys ! :)

congratulations from Pakistan !

[einarcharleslarsen]

Amazing how it is possible to make a video about gravitational waves, without telling anything about what such a wave is, and how it can be detected.