Astrophysicist explains big GRAVITATIONAL WAVE discovery! Are they NEW PHYSICS or merging SMBHs?

The BIG news in physics is that a new type of gravitational wave has been detected using pulsar timing arrays. In this video we’re chatting about what a pulsar timing array actually is, what’s been found, and why the gravitational waves *might* be from pairs of supermassive black holes orbiting each other, but there’s evidence that they could be from new physics processes occurring in the early Universe…

00:00 - Introduction
01:48 - What is a pulsar timing array?
04:47 - How are these gravitational waves different to the ones detected by LIGO?
06:33 - What are the pulsar timing arrays looking for?
09:37 - What does the data look like?
13:11 - Are these gravitational waves from pairs of supermassive black holes?
16:02 - OR Is there evidence for NEW PHYSICS?
21:34 - What's next then?
23:29 - Bloopers

Video filmed on a Sony ⍺7 IV

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👩🏽‍💻 I'm Dr. Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford (Christ Church). I love making videos about science with an unnatural level of enthusiasm. I like to focus on how we know things, not just what we know. And especially, the things we still don't know. If you've ever wondered about something in space and couldn't find an answer online - you can ask me! My day job is to do research into how supermassive black holes can affect the galaxies that they live in. In particular, I look at whether the energy output from the disk of material orbiting around a growing supermassive black hole can stop a galaxy from forming stars.

[dgram]

I'd love to see a Final Parsec Problem video. I guess the time it would take for the pair to lose enough rotational momentum to merge is longer than the age of the universe.

[GeoffHellings]

Thank you for covering this. It was my dad's life long work to detect gravitation waves. Sadly he passed before seeing this but I am very proud of his contribution.

[Gregarious]

Between JWST and this, it seems like we’re in this new age of discovery. It’s all just so exciting! Thanks so much for all the hard work you put in to making them understandable.

I would really love to see a video on the Final Parsec Problem. That sounds super interesting!

[jeremyloscheider]

Yes, please tell us about the Final Parsec problem. I'm really digging that you're walking us through this paper with illustrations and explanations ... and Elsa.

[theanyktos]

I super appreciate you doing all the work of getting through all the papers so we don't have to. Anytime there's any news in the world of astronomy, you're the first person I turn to, to explain what's going on and what it means.

[duncanny]

I think an explanation of the Final Parsec Problem would be interesting, yes. look forward to it! Good info here, thanks

[john.ellmaker]

“I’m an astrophysicist, I’m a three sigma gal, ” love that. I find myself waiting for the Dr. Becky take on all things astrophysics these days, brilliant as always.

[Tsudico]

Final Parsec Problem - I'd love to hear more about this. Has Hawking radiation been considered as a possible explanation? I would think that radiation from one black hole would intercept the path of the other black hole radiation between the two masses.

[BanditUshanka]

First time viewer here, cheers on good content. Im impressed that you are able to crunch down information and present it in a way that is more easily digested by those that are not in the field. I know I find it a struggle when friends or family ask about certain topics and many colleagues do as well to the point we do not generally have an open discussion unless the person is familiar with certain things. If more could produce content like this, I feel like more people would take the dive into such fields of study as opposed to being intimidated by them.

[zriraum]

Hey doc! Appreciate the effort going into the videos. Thanks for going through all this new stuff so quickly just so you could make a video for us space enthusiasts.❤

[neoanderson]

I'm always super impressed how you're able to digest all this information and be able to explain it to the masses.
I appreciate it! :-)

[zenlizard]

It's always fun to watch Dr Becky geek out, and she's carrying it off well in this one.

[Backsplash]

Terrific explanation. Super clear. So grateful to have this. Congratulations to all the people who contributed around the world.

[truthtellah]

Thank you so much for this lovely video, Dr. Becky! I've done my best in attempting to make the recent PTA news digestible for others so they can better understand the science involved, but you truly are such a professional at it. Your efforts to be both exceptionally thorough and easily understandable are a boon for so many, and I look forward to sharing your video. Cheers to potential new physics, new research, and the possibility of better understanding our universe's first moments! 💜

[anysailer]

I've watched this twice and will probably watch it again. You explain these complex topics so beautifully and with such enthusiasm, one cannot help but get excited. I am a chemist and I only have a very basic understanding of astrophysics, but I have learnt so much since subscribing. I believe that your channel should be recommended viewing for any student of astrophysics. Thank you so much and keep up the excellent work.

[rangerg]

Nicely done. I am a science teacher for middle school and occasionally honors level high school, and I appreciate the way you make a lot of information more digestible. Plus, I have been into cosmology since fifteen years old, just for fun, and we have learned a few things since 1975. Thank you!

[thehappypittie]

I would absolutely love a video on the final parsec problem please! I love your breakdowns

[PhaseBurned]

I'd love to see you produce a video about the final parsec problem! I've heard about it before but never really understood the factors that lead to why. Bet you'd do an amazing job explaining it so that it's accessible to the curious!

[ElSol]

I love your videos, and absolutely would love to hear about the Final Parsec Problem! Can’t wait to see your next video!

[UteChewb]

Thank you for this excellent update. While you were describing the possibilities I automatically thought of Cosmic Strings, but Phase Transitions sounds so interesting. Wow. It must be so exciting to by an astrophysicist right now.