Gravitational Waves Hit The Late Show
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert・7 minutes read
Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein a century ago, were detected by LIGO using lasers to study space distortion caused by massive objects like stars, black holes, and the Big Bang. Through precise measurements shielded from environmental influences, gravitational waves offer a new avenue to explore and understand the universe, captured in a computer rendering of the sound of black holes colliding by physicist Brian Greene.
Insights
- Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein, are ripples in space caused by massive objects, detected by LIGO using lasers and mirrors, enabling the study of inaccessible phenomena like black hole mergers and the Big Bang.
- The conversion of gravitational waves into sound offers a novel approach to exploring the universe, exemplified by Brian Greene's visualization of black hole collisions, indicating a future where cosmic events are understood through auditory experiences.
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Recent questions
What are gravitational waves?
Ripples in space caused by massive objects.
How are gravitational waves detected?
Using lasers and mirrors in observatories.
Why are gravitational wave detectors sensitive?
To shield from environmental influences for precise measurements.
How can gravitational waves be converted into sound?
Providing a new way to explore the universe.
What is the significance of gravitational waves?
Allowing the study of inaccessible cosmic events.
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Summary
00:00
"Gravitational Waves: Sound of the Universe"
- Brian Greene is a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University and a bestselling author.
- He discusses the discovery of gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein 100 years ago in 1916.
- Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space caused by the warping of space by massive objects like stars.
- The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected gravitational waves using lasers and mirrors.
- The interference pattern created by the lasers is crucial in detecting the stretching and compressing of space caused by gravitational waves.
- Gravitational waves allow us to study phenomena like black hole mergers and the Big Bang, inaccessible to light.
- The sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors shields them from environmental influences, allowing for precise measurements.
- Gravitational waves can be converted into sound, providing a new way to explore and understand the universe.
- Brian Greene presents a computer rendering of the sound of two black holes colliding, showcasing the future of studying the cosmos through sound waves.
