piscesdreamer
222151
10565
129
Why is this important?
"Well, gravitational waves give us another way to observe space. For example, waves from the Big Bang would tell us a little more about how the universe formed. Waves also form when black holes collide, supernovae explode, and massive neutron stars wobble. So detecting these waves would give us a new new insight into the cosmic events that produced them.
Finally, gravitational waves could also help physicists understand the fundamental laws of the universe. They are, in fact, a crucial part of Einstein's general theory of relativity. Finding them would prove that theory—and could also help us figure out where it goes astray. Which could lead to a more accurate, more all-encompassing model, and perhaps point the way toward a theory of everything."
Taken from the article
http://www.popsci.com/whats-so-important-about-gravitational-waves
Why is this a big deal?
Taken from the article
http://www.sciencealert.com/live-update-big-gravitational-wave-announcement-is-happening-right-now
A quick visual guide to what gravitational waves and how they can be detected
http://www.popsci.com/whats-so-important-about-gravitational-waves
Hear the chirp from the sound of two black holes colliding:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/live/2016/feb/11/gravitational-wave-announcement-latest-physics-einstein-ligo-black-holes-live
Note: Before I put this post together I hadn't seen this breaking announcement in User Sub, and I wanted my fellow Imgur nerds to know this amazing discovery was announced just an hour ago.
So if it's a repost and flooding User Sub right now then I just want to say IDGAF WE FOUND GRAVITATIONAL WAVES MOTHER FUCKER!!!
Whatthefuckyoudontknowme
"Yeah! Suck it bitches!" - Einstein, probably
SCA4Life
Watched the live feed when they were releasing this info. It was super cool. P.S. I'm a huge nerd when it comes to this stuff
henrycavill1234
Holy Shit!!!!!!!
azazyel
http://imgur.com/cTNLWHu
MrUsernameHeNoIsHere
goonies4life
"Yeah, that's what I fucking said." - Albert Einstein
Limerickbound
The statement "what a time to be alive", has never been more appropriate. This is scary and exciting all at once!
Dopplerfart
Everytime I read stuff like this I laugh about how insignificant humans are compared to what's out there
FNHuskys
This will prove the earth is flat!
DarthFutuza
#SpacetimeIsFlat
danielfront
What a time to be alive!!!! God bless us, every one.
Mongoliasucks
Okay this is sweet BUT, can someone explain just exactly how we can hear this? Like how does this translate persay
fujnky
We can't hear it. They detected a signal of 35-250Hz, which they shifted upwards by 400Hz to make it audible and converted it to audio.
DeadEuphoricKitten
My chemistry teacher cancelled the lesson plan to show my class this. He was so happy about it, constantly jumping around. (1)
DeadEuphoricKitten
He also teaches physics
thatswildman
so what can gravitational waves be used to do?
nuplsstahp
TL;DR: they found 20 whole science
lowlek
*waves back*
TheUrbanShamanIsDead
"IDGAF WE FOUND GRAVITATIONAL WAVES MOTHER FUCKER!!! WABALUBADUBDUB!!!"
piscesdreamer
vikingsbeast22
Can anyone explain how it is heard as a sound wave? It happened in a vacuum, so no sound can travel?
fujnky
The detected signal had a frequency of 35-250Hz. The sound they published is the signal shifted by 400Hz to make it audible (better).
AlanStrangeways
What if Gravitational Waves didn't want to be found? They just haven't been the same since their last album tanked.
ameki
You don't have to be a nerd to appreciate interesting stuff
MadMerlyn
MadMerlyn
I wanted to post this myself, it's fucking awesome (the grav. waves, not the nerds gif :P)
piscesdreamer
UhBell
Sadly, 90% of the country does not feel this way.
DarthFutuza
I thought that was the definition of what a nerd is.
ThePensivePowerconverter
As cool as it is, I don't get what 'new' insights this might bring. Everyone just talks about the breakthrough, but why exactly?
MaladaptedMedic
because being able to observe something is the first step towards influencing it. Anti-gravity and "warp" technologies are now a step closer
wildfathom9
That's a stretch. A really really long stretch.
MaladaptedMedic
It took 250 years from Newton's laws and Bernoulli's Principle to the first powered flight... I don't doubt that we'll find apps for this
dmanruls
Same thing could happen with when we discovered radio waves, it will be studied and then may lead to function use later on. Knowing it (1)
dmanruls
exists is the first step to greater understanding of the world around us. There's been talks about being able to "view" the big bang theory.
MrHacknslash
Can't you just watch it on TV like everyone else?
talon101
A theory never becomes a law. In fact, if there was a hierarchy of science, theories would be higher than laws. There is nothing higher, 1/?
talon101
or better, than a theory. basically, laws describe, and theories explain. basically, its the most proven "idea" we have to explain stuff 2/?
talon101
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-s-the-difference-between-a-scientific-law-and-theory-matt-anticole is a great one to explain 3/3 :)
BarefootBen
I studied astrophysics at Glasgow University and some of my friends helped in the research groups that discovered this! So proud of them!
umpalumpasuckedmydong
I can make pancakes
slagath0r
Me too man, and crepes too
AFuckingBazooka
And that's all that's really important.
skrimple
I can't :(
DarthMaulHadTheHighgroundAndStillLost
Thanks for putting this together OP. I always enjoy sciencing
Haggis4breakfast
IMO a fine Goldilocks post - not too long not too short +1
nipaxon
In sweden we have a word for that, "Lagom" not to much not to little but just right. Sweden is often called The land of Lagom. (1/2)
nipaxon
Because its a word used a lot here. The word comes from viking when they shared mead and food everyone had to take the right amount (2/3)
nipaxon
so everyone could have their share of food and beverages. Lagom means in short all around the team. This was more text than i intended (3/3
sugar3
In the zone
AashUnce
AuroraNora33
but how be the universe?
AuroraNora33
it be like it is?
AuroraNora33
it do
TalonDudeguy
I was afraid it wouldn't loop
halefire
You glorious bastard
ImTHErick
That's so perfect.
Specificlude
I dropped acid recently and watched cosmos. He became my Jesus.
G0MeatCube
Dude I loved that show Cosmos
mrchiller
Very cool indeed.
GravitationalFluctuations
I'm relevant
DoesAnyoneElseRealizeHowCrazyLongImgurNamesAre
Or relative.
honeyboob
8^))))
oozabooza
Ok, but... Can you surf on them??
tomyironmane
Of course you can, haven't you heard? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZThquH5t0ow
whoseline4gp
In theory, yes http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
TheWayADrillWorks
I really hope someone figures this out in our lifetime...
AkiliW
Yes actually! There are spaceprobe concepts that rely on these.
0TheTiger
Surfs up dude!
twfeline
You already are.
imsaykok
I guess silver surfer can
ofspaceandtime
.
333PuG333
Yes but you need a silver surfboard
anubis4567
My understanding is that planets travel along the curves caused by these waves, so technically you're always surfing on them.
ghsdkgb
You already did.
oozabooza
I can't handle the truth!
SepplesTheDuck
Woah bro. That's like, far out.
eachmanslifetouchessomanyotherlives
With an albecurrie drive you could!
GuardsmanMiku
was about to say, isnt that essentially what that drive does? (or would do rather)
Paketeman
So that means we can go at the speed of light now?
INeverThoughtIdMakeThisAccount
The year is 327654 AD. Trillions of visiting hopefuls gather from round the universe for the annual space wave surfing competition.
piscesdreamer
WreckTim
Perfect reaction gif. You are a true imgurite
JamesBluntThatSmartassCunt
Source: https://youtu.be/TVYSiQolKps?t=12m8s
SuperHighQualityImageOfYourMom
So pitted
Javanmarsh1
given the fact that gravity is one of the only things we know to be faster then light.... surfing them would likely allow ftl travel!
TheWayADrillWorks
I'm fairly certain gravity travels at light speed.
baginbox
No, it's now proven to travel at the speed of light
twfeline
Source?
QuatroDoesGood
Yes, its called falling down. Easily achieved by jumping off a cliff
SlovenlyPig
alternately, it's called orbit
Piornet
Instructions unclear: threw myself at the ground and missed, ended up flying.
GodDamnitMayweather
YodasLeftEar
according to einstein you could do that, you would have to be really fat and bend space. tldr eat all the cakes.
Kazyarog
I lol'd
Piornet
I come to Imgur for emotional support like this :)
YodasLeftEar
got u fam
UhBell
As much as you can surf on audio waves
[deleted]
[deleted]
UhBell
Well, we are not as small as ant man, nor will we ever be. So I rest my case in stating that we cannot surf on them.
scarredhero
Then his statement is true lol
[deleted]
[deleted]
scarredhero
He didn't imply that you couldn't, you assumed that. He said you could surf on gravity waves as much as you could audio, which is true.
SuurFett
Where is your god now?
HappySylveon
Science is not a belief
saucefordipping29
I have been thinking alot about god lately like is there a heaven do i rebirth am i lost forever. Like i want science to be right but ...
XooMG
The humble realization that souls are not eternal and we are not especially important to the universe can be tough, but then (1)
XooMG
once one crosses that bridge, reality's colors shine brighter and we can appreciate our brief participation in existence even better.
saucefordipping29
I don't disagree with you i am just wanting the possibility of a life with my family forever
honeyboob
There's so many things we are blind to... so many energies and changes that we don't realize. Death is just a transformation into an unknown
IlIlllIIllIllIlI
Science is right.
saucefordipping29
Yeah on this one i hope its a little of both
Kazyarog
It doesn't mean God doesn't exist.
SuurFett
But I have to admit my post was provocative. Im not against what people personaly believe if they dont use religion as excuse to hurt others
SuurFett
Religions and gods were born when people didnt know how stuff happened. If they would have had todays info, people wouldnt invent religion.
Cryolith
Don't care about reposts. I will invite all of them. This is a big deal. Awesome post OP
metalchild88
don't understand why their so important. can someone explain?
lilpinkelephants
Agreed - This just blew my mind.. great stuff. Thanks for posting!!!!!
CarlSag
Oh thank god you approve of them *whew*
Cryolith
Grr. Upvote*
GoodNewsCigaretteJuice
Instead of restating that it's a big deal, how about you explain why. That'd be a start :)
SaucyDisses
Totally! And thanks for explaining its significance in simple terms and providing the link for those who want to dive deeper. +1
foolish718
why is this a big deal? How can this info be applied to do anyting?
DescriptionIsLooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong
Don't like gravitational reposts?
TheNippleHunter
Bro.
ThatRussian
I can't wait to hear Neil's opinion on this.
JamesBluntThatSmartassCunt
"I am an internet-famous science man, and I approve this message"- Neil probably
leatherneck1836
I still claim gravity is fiction, and only caused by the unaccounted and extraordinarily strong remainder of the strong/weak nuclear forces.
inboxmefoxes
An awfully extreme assertion, particularly in the face of the confirmation of gravitational waves.
leatherneck1836
Don't forget that the electromagnetic force was once considered 2 separate forces, until someone came along and challenged what was "known."
leatherneck1836
I see no confirmation in the claims above, just the claim of new evidence. Also, I don't deny the force, I deny it is separate.
inboxmefoxes
It is confirmation. Not a claim. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35524440 The bending of space-time has been directly observed.
leatherneck1836
Also, this would only confirm force waves, not the existence of gravity, simply a force that we have named gravity. Please understand that
leatherneck1836
even if this is confirmed, there is no understanding of what causes "gravity." This is why I postulate known forces are the "culprit."
leatherneck1836
"...might finally be about to confirm..." is not a confirmation of anything.