Does it matter? Scientists have come one step closer to solving an age-old mystery first theorised by Einstein. But some think there are certain disadvantages to having our heads in the stars.
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Scientists hear the hum of the universe
Does it matter? Scientists have come one step closer to solving an age-old mystery first theorised by Einstein. But some think there are certain disadvantages to having our heads in the stars.
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At the heart of a distant galaxy, two supermassiveHaving a mass many times larger than that of the sun. black holes begin to merge. Shock waves ripple out due to the gravitational upheaval of these two mysterious space phenomena spiralling into each other.
The force of this event is so immense that it distorts space and time itself. And, even more strangely, it appears to hum.
NANOGrav, a collaboration of international astrophysicists, used a network of radio telescopes to study the signals from pulsarsA celestial object that emits regular pulses of radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation.. By carefully monitoring these radio waves, the astronomers were able to detect tiny variations caused by the passage of gravitational waves.
The gravitational waves are invisible, but they were first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916. Einstein believed that space and time were a single entityA thing with independent existence., "space-time," that could be stretched and compressed, bent and warped.
He also believed that it could, if acted upon by a large enough force, be flicked almost like a bedsheet - causing a wave to ripple outwards.
Although we can't detect these waves they are happening all around us right now. They are even happening to us. Every atom of us is humming in tune with the universe.
This may all sound quite amazing, but some are asking: Should we really care about something that is happening billions of light-years away that we cannot even detect?
Scientists argue that yes, we should care. The discovery seems to confirm Albert Einstein's general theory of relativityGeneral relativity is the basic idea that instead of an invisible force that attracts objects to one another, gravity is a warping of space. The more massive the object, the more it warps the space around it. and, from a more philosophical point of view, shows how we are deeply connected to the universe and part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Others believe that the small things in life are what matter most. They argue that our relationships with our loved ones, our experiences, and our everyday choices are what make life worth living.
It is impossible to say for sure. But one thing is for certain: the more we learn about the universe, the more we realise how little we actually know. As SocratesConsidered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason. said, "I know that I know nothing" - and that, in itself, is a reminder that the really huge stuff is still out there, waiting to be discovered.
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Does it matter?
Yes: The discovery of gravitational waves is a major scientific breakthrough. It confirms Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity and it can also be used to study the expansion of the universe.
No: The discovery of gravitational waves from merging supermassive black holes is happening billions of light-years away. It is something that we cannot see or interact with in any way. It is not something that is going to have any immediate impact on our lives.
Or... If you are interested in science and astronomy, then it is a major breakthrough that will likely lead to new discoveries and insights. If you are more concerned with the immediate challenges facing humanity, then it may seem like a distant and irrelevant event.
Keywords
Supermassive - Having a mass many times larger than that of the sun.
Pulsars - A celestial object that emits regular pulses of radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation.
Entity - A thing with independent existence.
Theory of Relativity - General relativity is the basic idea that instead of an invisible force that attracts objects to one another, gravity is a warping of space. The more massive the object, the more it warps the space around it.
Socrates - Considered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason.
Scientists hear the hum of the universe
Cosmic orchestra: Scientists have been documenting radio waves from exploded stars for 15 years. Glossary
Supermassive - Having a mass many times larger than that of the sun.
Pulsars - A celestial object that emits regular pulses of radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation.
Entity - A thing with independent existence.
Theory of Relativity - General relativity is the basic idea that instead of an invisible force that attracts objects to one another, gravity is a warping of space. The more massive the object, the more it warps the space around it.
Socrates - Considered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason.