gravitational waves
Cosmic fabric vibrations
Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by massive accelerating objects—typically colliding black holes or neutron stars.
Einstein predicted them in 1916, but they weren't directly detected until 2015.
They travel at the speed of light, stretching and compressing space as they pass: LIGO detected gravitational waves from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light-years away.
Regions of inescapable gravity
- neutron starsUltradense collapsed stellar corpses
- binary systemNumeration with two values
- mergerCorporate combination
- collisionForceful contact between objects
supernova · pulsar · magnetar · inflation · primordial · asymmetric · spinning · orbiting
Sixth zodiac sign
- interferometerInstrument measuring wave interference
- laserConcentrated light device
- chirpShort, high avian sound
- signalMessage-conveying cue
sensitivity · noise · waveform · frequency · hertz · merger · coalescence · binary
Byword for genius
- spacetimeMerged dimensional framework
- massQuantity of matter
- energyPower to do work
- speed of lightMaximum possible velocity
prediction · 1916 · graviton · tensor · polarization · transverse · radiation
Small surface undulations
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- distortionTwisting from original state
- warpingBecoming bent or twisted
- fabricWoven or knit material
continuum · metric · tensor · perturbation · geodesic · four-dimensional · manifold · stretching
Loud explosive noise
- primordialExisting from the start
- inflationSustained price level increase
- dark energyForce accelerating universal expansion
- HubbleRenowned astronomer's surname
redshift · distance measurement · cosmological · universe · multiverse
black holes
Regions of inescapable gravity
- neutron starsUltradense collapsed stellar corpses
- binary systemNumeration with two values
- mergerCorporate combination
collision · supernova · pulsar · magnetar · inflation · primordial · asymmetric · spinning · orbiting · cataclysmic
Virgo
Sixth zodiac sign
- interferometerInstrument measuring wave interference
- laserConcentrated light device
- chirpShort, high avian sound
signal · sensitivity · noise · waveform · frequency · hertz · merger · coalescence · binary · strain
Einstein
Byword for genius
speed of light · prediction · 1916 · graviton · tensor · polarization · transverse · radiation
ripples
Small surface undulations
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- distortionTwisting from original state
- warpingBecoming bent or twisted
fabric · continuum · metric · tensor · perturbation · geodesic · four-dimensional · manifold · stretching · squeezing
big bang
Loud explosive noise
- primordialExisting from the start
- inflationSustained price level increase
- dark energyForce accelerating universal expansion
Hubble · redshift · distance measurement · cosmological · universe · multiverse
- Gravity Theoriesgeneral relativity, supergravity, Kaluza-Klein theory, graviton, gravitons
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, force
- spacespace, sun, moon, stars, star
- discoveriesbreakthrough, scientific discovery, finding, uncovering, detection
- space phenomenastars, black hole, meteors, wormhole, dark energy
gravitational waveselectromagnetic radiation
Wave-propagating energy through space
electromagnetic waves · light · radio waves · X-rays · gamma rays
gravity, gravitate, gravitation, gravitating, gravitated, antigravity, gravitational, gravitational wave