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CNN: Gravitational Waves Discovered [!]


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Gravitational waves are a reality, according to scientists from an institution that has been hoping to observe them. "We have detected gravitational waves. We did it," said David Reitze, executive director of LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory.

 

The discovery, based on ripples in space-time detected by LIGO, supports a prediction made by Albert Einstein that's essential to his general theory of relativity. The ripples LIGO detected are based on the merging of two black holes, Reitze said. Reitze said one black hole had the mass of 29 suns; the other was the equivalent of 36 suns. Each was perhaps 150 kilometers (90 miles) in diameter, he said.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/11/us/gravitational-waves-feat/index.html

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I don't know about you, but I'm really pumped by this.  Been waiting my whole life for this.  Between this and the Higgs Bosom, I think things are going to start to change pretty quickly for us!!

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I've read about this in a few places today. I believe what you say about how this will change things as people who are a lot smarter than I are saying it's a momentous discovery. I just don't understand how.

 

Nor do I, my comment was a bit tongue in cheek.  However, I will let the more sciencey guys on the board try to explain.  If the answer is "we'll be able to contact the aliens now," or "we'll be able to travel in less than 10 hours to that new earth with the great beachfront real estate/buildable lots," I'll be excited.  If not, meh.

dumb this down for me - what does this mean or prove?

 

It proves that Einstein's theory of general relativity is mostly proven.

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I want to talk to the aliens in less than 10 hours!

 

Well, with this its actually quicker to see them in person than it is to talk on the phone. Because the ships will travel 1015 faster than the speed of light, which is how fast cell phones go. Plus most aliens still use sprint, which is full of service holes.

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So we discovered/proved something that we long believed to be true?

 

No.  We confirmed something that had to be true, otherwise Einstein is a dumbass and we've all been duped. Because only .000001% of the Earth's population actually know how any of this fits into his general theory of relativity.

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https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/11/gravitational-waves-discovery-hailed-as-breakthrough-of-the-century

I'm sure someone can better explain this then me: though we've had the math for how gravity works going all the way back to before we found Neptune, we were never able to scientifically observe gravity as an actual thing with any man-made instrument. Gravity is a very weak force, but its definitely there.

Additionally, all our instruments (up to this point now) can only see so far back in time (about 400,000 years after Big Bang, look into the WMAP probe). Using gravity waves to look at the early universe could allow us to look even further back in time and prove there was ever a singularity to begin with (basically prove the Big Bang theory, which as of right now, is a sound theory, but still just a theory).

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In other words, nothing to see here.

 

"nothing to see" is an excellent way to explain it. But perhaps not what you meant  :)

 

There is much going on in space that we can't detect via light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

 

If we can reliably detect gravity waves we have a whole new way to 'look' at all the stuff in space that we couldn't 'see' before. 

 

Think of it like Galileo turning his telescope to the sky for the first time and changing fundamentally our understanding of the universe.

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"nothing to see" is an excellent way to explain it. But perhaps not what you meant  :)

 

There is much going on in space that we can't detect via light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

 

If we can reliably detect gravity waves we have a whole new way to 'look' at all the stuff in space that we couldn't 'see' before. 

 

Think of it like Galileo turning his telescope to the sky for the first time and changing fundamentally our understanding of the universe.

Wonder how long it will be before we have equipment that is sensitive enough to actually use gravitational waves to observe everyday/nearby phenomena. Right now we can only see it when produced from a HUGE source...colliding black holes isn't something we want to observe close up I'd think. Though I'm sure it would be an amazing last thing you ever saw.

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Wonder how long it will be before we have equipment that is sensitive enough to actually use gravitational waves to observe everyday/nearby phenomena. Right now we can only see it when produced from a HUGE source...colliding black holes isn't something we want to observe close up I'd think. Though I'm sure it would be an amazing last thing you ever saw.

 

And once you can detect them easily, can you modify or deflect them? Actual hoverboards, anyone?

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And once you can detect them easily, can you modify or deflect them? Actual hoverboards, anyone?

 

Future headline:

 

'Gravity Wave' Flying Technology Wreaks Havoc on Tides

Millions of flying machines, Moon compete for dominance over coastal sea levels

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Future headline:

 

'Gravity Wave' Flying Technology Wreaks Havoc on Tides

Millions of flying machines, Moon compete for dominance over coastal sea levels

 

The New England Patriots will be accused of using it to control the flight of footballs next season.

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"nothing to see" is an excellent way to explain it. But perhaps not what you meant :)

There is much going on in space that we can't detect via light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

If we can reliably detect gravity waves we have a whole new way to 'look' at all the stuff in space that we couldn't 'see' before.

Think of it like Galileo turning his telescope to the sky for the first time and changing fundamentally our understanding of the universe.

So if relativity is mostly proven today, quantum mechanics incorrect?

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Are you speaking of outer space or the space between your ears? :P

(I almost posted another new piece on this in the something cool thread :lol:)

Wouldn't it then be... inner space?

Anyhow, I do actually think that this is very cool. It will be interesting to see what else we can find in the future. It's amazing the space discoveries that have taken place in my lifetime alone. Saddens me how little we spend on R&D as a nation and society.

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