Big? Rumor Says Scientists Have Finally Detected Elusive "Gravitational Waves"

Gravitational waves are important for a few reasons. One of those reasons is that they would prove the existence of black holes, which are "proven" now only by mathematics plus indirect indications.

The idea is that when two black holes begin orbiting each other, they speed up more and more and start pumping out gravitational waves.

In addition, gravitational waves are predicted by Einstein's relativity equations. They themselves are predicted, but not proven. So just detecting the waves themselves would be big deal.

The LIGO system is a neat way to detect these gravitational waves. They cut a long, long shaft beneath the earth. They hanged two weights at the end of this long shaft.* (I think this shaft is like a kilometer long. I mean, it's long.) A laser is bounced between the weights (well, mirrors on the weights). One side has a sensor of some kind on it.

The idea is that the weights are insulated enough from other forces that the only thing that can disturb them would be gravitational waves, crossing the galaxy from a swirl of black holes light-centuries away. Well, there'd be earthquakes, gravity from planets, etc., disturbing them, but those inputs are themselves measured and then subtracted out of the math. If you can measure that noise, you can subtract that noise out of your measurements.

Because each perturbance would be actually undetectable -- way too small for even the most sensitive sensors to detect -- the perturbance will be indicated by the overlay of many, many laser bounces on to each other. It is believed that if a tiny disturbance moves one weight, you would be able to see that if, say, 3000 laser lines showed a flutter, when their signals were all piled on to each other.

That's the "interferometer" part. The laser lines interfere with each other's waves, and should produce a detectable signal from what would otherwise be an undetectable nudge.

Kind of the way you can't detect Obama's lies from a single instance but when you pile up a thousand of them the pattern becomes clear.

This LIGO (which stands for Large Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) has been bouncing laser lines for a while now, and checking to see how their interference patterns might indicate a disturbance.**

Now they say they're prepared to make a big announcement.

* Actually I think they cut a long "L" shaped shaft in the earth, and have lasers bouncing via a mirror at the corner of the L from one weight to the other, but, you know. I'm not big on details.

** Laser light, having the same sinuous waveform, should just overlap upon itself perfectly, assuming you have the laser bouncing at an exact multiple of its wavelength. That is, say you have a laser with a wavelength of 1 mm. If the laser is being bounced back and forth at a distance of exactly 1 m (exactly 1000 mm), then each peak of the laser should overlay perfectly with every other peak, and every trough should overlay with every other trough.

Now, if this distance is slightly altered -- like if a gravitational wave nudges a mirror slightly -- the laser wave-forms will not overlay perfectly. You'll see them go out of sync.

They'll go out of sync so slightly you couldn't tel from a few back-and-forth runs of the laser, but when you keep piling up the runs, the out-of-sync situation should become clear.

Well, not to the eye. You have to do a bunch of math. But then you'll see it.

Posted by: Ace at 05:44 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 1st?

Posted by: Skip at February 09, 2016 05:46 PM (HWcaz)

2 I don't love science sexually.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 05:46 PM (2x3L+)

3 Whew! Not first. Now I don't have to get the others.
That's on you, Skip. Skip to it.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 05:47 PM (2x3L+)

4 Oooh, goody! A Physics thread.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 09, 2016 05:48 PM (LUgeY)

5 I'll try to read the post. Science makes my head hurt.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 05:48 PM (2x3L+)

6 I don't love science sexually.

Posted by: L, Elle

You sure about that babe?

Posted by: two weights at the end of this long shaft at February 09, 2016 05:48 PM (KjcMt)

7

Grey is the new black.

Says Hawking.

http://theconversation.com/grey-is-the-new-black-hole-is-stephen-hawking-right-22481

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 09, 2016 05:48 PM (qCMvj)

8 And..eventually by measuring the differences in the laser bounces, they can begin to determine frequency" of waves. This important for later research and eventual space travel.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 09, 2016 05:49 PM (r65B3)

9 Huh-huh. You said "long shaft."

Posted by: Butthead at February 09, 2016 05:49 PM (7qAYi)

10 Posted by: two weights at the end of this long shaft at February 09, 2016 05:48 PM (KjcMt)

You forgot the batteries.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at February 09, 2016 05:49 PM (kKHcp)

11 They had a bunch of black hole episodes on How the Universe Works last night.

B'Gal gazed in wonder at my geekiness whilst watching them. I like that stuff.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 09, 2016 05:50 PM (LUgeY)

12 I saw L Shaped Shaft open for Right Said Fred at the Clark County Fair back in '93.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at February 09, 2016 05:50 PM (1RNgT)

13

So just detecting the waves themselves would be big deal. more energy

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 09, 2016 05:50 PM (qCMvj)

14 I broke this story years ago. Before my daughter got ass licked on Girls.

Posted by: Brian Williams at February 09, 2016 05:51 PM (u0o1v)

15 Ok I'll bite,
If they are so "important " how has it happened that no one has proven they are there?

Posted by: Skip at February 09, 2016 05:51 PM (HWcaz)

16 Around my waistline?

Posted by: Krispy Kreme Christie at February 09, 2016 05:51 PM (H9MG5)

17 I do love science sexually, like a woman. As in I enjoy looking at pretty pictures of the cosmos & nature, but I'll be damned if I can understand it.

Posted by: Josephistan at February 09, 2016 05:52 PM (7qAYi)

18 I would have gotten the others but I'm watching the future, Leftists have decided everyone should die at age 30

Posted by: Skip at February 09, 2016 05:53 PM (HWcaz)

19 (I think this shaft is like a kilometer long. I mean, it's long.)

Baby, you've got that right.

Posted by: Peter "LIGO" North at February 09, 2016 05:53 PM (LUG6K)

20 L Shaped Shaft was the poorly received 3rd sequel to "Shaft."

Posted by: Josephistan at February 09, 2016 05:53 PM (7qAYi)

21 I'm sure this is really big in the world of people who know almost everything about almost nothing, but what's in it for me?

Posted by: Politicians everywhere at February 09, 2016 05:54 PM (kKHcp)

22 You can detect just about anything with enough LSD and public grant research funds.

Posted by: Walter Freeman at February 09, 2016 05:54 PM (21hN3)

23 I just got the AOSHQDD teaser on their exit polling. Go check your email if you signed up for the newsletter. I'd post what CAC said but I'm trying to get some of you who didn't sign up for the newsletter to sign up. Go sign up! It's free!

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 05:54 PM (2x3L+)

24 The DOD is attempting to weaponize gravity waves in a hand-held platform similar to a rifle. When struck by the waves, an enemy combatant may feel up to twenty pounds heavier and suffer a corresponding loss in body image and self-esteem.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at February 09, 2016 05:55 PM (1RNgT)

25 I heard this elsewhere and found that PHD Comics explains what the waves are and how they're trying to measure them. Unlike Neil deGrasse Tyson, I try to learn about something before discussing it.

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?f=1853

Posted by: Uma Thurman's Feet at February 09, 2016 05:56 PM (tZckX)

26
1. How does the existence/nonexistence of black holes affect my life?

2. Did anyone poll the pig?

3. How much do you think that pig is worth?

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 05:56 PM (iQIUe)

27 Hey, One-Eyed Jack, thanks for the link to the Kasich fruit ninja thingy. I missed that. Pretty funny.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 05:56 PM (2x3L+)

28 Hawking also says there is a way out of black holes, there will be time travel, and we are at risk from aliens, along with the expected there is no God or heaven. The last two I expect, however he seems to like press more than research of late

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (zOTsN)

29 Bitchin' waves, dude.

Posted by: The Silver Surfer at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (oVJmc)

30 12 I saw L Shaped Shaft open for Right Said Fred at the Clark County Fair back in '93.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at February 09, 2016 05:50 PM (1RNgT)

Heard their laser show was out of this world!

Posted by: No One of Consequence at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (b0LbM)

31 Inception cylinder ships: confirmed.

Lets get building, people

Posted by: Jollyroger at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (t06LC)

32 >>>>Because each perturbance would be actually undetectable -- way too small
for even the most sensitive sensors to detect -- the perturbance will
be indicated by the overlay of many, many laser bounces on to each
other. It is believed that if a tiny disturbance moves one weight, you
would be able to see that if, say, 3000 laser lines showed a flutter,
when their signals were all piled on to each other.
.
.
.
.Uh, I'm no rocket surgeon, but random fluctuations in the earths magnetic field would/could cause the same effect.

Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (iONHu)

33 Skip, it took them years to find even a single neutrino. They had the detectors set up in the bottom of a salt mine close to a mile deep.

Posted by: Old Blue at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (9iR5/)

34 I like big weights
And I cannot lie....

Posted by: Tex Lovera at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (3xlB2)

35 How do they keep earth tremors from interfering?

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 09, 2016 05:57 PM (B8JRQ)

36
Runaway pig never going back
Wrong way pig on a one way track
Seems like pig should be getting somewhere
Somehow pig is neither here nor there

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 05:58 PM (iQIUe)

37 Neutralize the matter-antimatter subspace ionizer with emission deflector generators, whilst compensating the trellium-D subspace tachyon analyzer with multicarbodine phaser sustainers.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at February 09, 2016 05:58 PM (GdFQh)

38 Ahh, the HQ. come for the bewb jokes, stay for the physics lessons.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at February 09, 2016 05:58 PM (kTF2Z)

39 Hawkings also says humans may not last another 100 years. He says alot of stuff

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 05:58 PM (zOTsN)

40 >>>> I do love science sexually, like a woman. As in I enjoy looking at pretty pictures of the cosmos & nature, but I'll be damned if I can understand it.
Posted by: Josephistan at February 09, 2016 05:52 PM
------
That describes me perfectly. I love all the cool, mind blowing pictures of outer space and I love space movies but actual theory, yeah, that's goes nowhere.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 05:58 PM (2x3L+)

41 I'd post what CAC said but I'm trying to get some of you who didn't sign up for the newsletter to sign up. Go sign up! It's free!

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 05:54 PM (2x3L+)

Oh you tease.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 09, 2016 05:59 PM (8ZskC)

42 They're doing incredible things with LIGO sets these days. The best I could do was build castle & a race car.

Posted by: Josephistan at February 09, 2016 05:59 PM (7qAYi)

43 Hawkings has said humans have 1000 years to escape the earth.

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 05:59 PM (zOTsN)

44 Big? Rumor Says Scientists Have Finally Detected Elusive "Gravitational Waves," still baffled by Location of Clitoris

Progress.

Posted by: Jollyroger at February 09, 2016 05:59 PM (t06LC)

45 Ha! Take THAT, knuckledraggers!

Posted by: Leftard Who Always Think Anything Science Validates Everything He Believes About Anything Else at February 09, 2016 05:59 PM (7Kbxu)

46 Probably what they will discover is the erff doesn't rotate smoothly, and doesn't travel in orbit smoothly.

And how are they going to screen out moon, venus, mars, and jupiter while trying to detect something from several basizlliongoogleplex light years away?

Ok, ya, well, math what can it not do?

Posted by: Phoulish Phodie at February 09, 2016 06:00 PM (r4Zyw)

47 "1. How does the existence/nonexistence of black holes affect my life? "

Probably won't directly but sure would suck to get too close to one.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 09, 2016 06:00 PM (LA7Cm)

48 OMG, Science!!!

*cums*

Posted by: Leftard Who Always Gets Way Too Excited About Stuff He Absolutely Does Not Understand at February 09, 2016 06:00 PM (7Kbxu)

49 What does this have to do with boobs?

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 09, 2016 06:01 PM (4ErVI)

50 That's an interesting experiment but I'm not certain what it actually proves. They're presuming without any actual evidence that something that far down would not be interfered with by any other forces, but they don't know at all. For all we know, interference gets worse the deeper in the earth goes, due to forces we don't presently understand or know are active in the earth.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 09, 2016 06:01 PM (39g3+)

51 I'm pretty sure those fluctuations are caused by Climate Change

Posted by: No One of Consequence at February 09, 2016 06:01 PM (b0LbM)

52 I love Man's Country!

Posted by: Kneel DeAss Tyson at February 09, 2016 06:01 PM (u0o1v)

53 Hawkings says technology is making inequality worse and that AI will kill us all

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:01 PM (zOTsN)

54 My Higgs boson can beat the shit our of your graviton.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 09, 2016 06:01 PM (8ZskC)

55 The vibrations being picked up to demonstrate gravity waves have to be extremely faint. Does such a place exist? It would seem likely that most places would have more vibration that that either naturally or unnaturally.

Posted by: I Love Science in an Agnostic Way at February 09, 2016 06:02 PM (haWHk)

56 Hawking also says "the cow goes moo" so he's right about some things.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 09, 2016 06:02 PM (8ZskC)

57 A long shaft.

And two weights connected to the long shaft.

Yeah, I'm following you.

Posted by: Pastorius at February 09, 2016 06:03 PM (gMAUH)

58 Ok I'll bite,
If they are so "important " how has it happened that no one has proven they are there?
Posted by: Skip at February 09, 2016 05:51 PM (HWcaz)

Because they underpin a lot of other items. I'm always a little doubtful of things like this because the measurements required are ridiculously precise. It's too easy to mess up and it's not like someone else has another kilometer shaft to do the same thing.

Posted by: WOPR at February 09, 2016 06:03 PM (LTDSy)

59 Um, like...this is a heavy subject. Will there be any math?

Posted by: Emily Boxofrockski at February 09, 2016 06:03 PM (Dwehj)

60 Praise be to Science, you magical sky fairy worshipping fools!

Posted by: Leftard Who Never Notices How Religious He Is About Science at February 09, 2016 06:03 PM (7Kbxu)

61 I don't understand Hawkings and the aliens thing. A lot of Hollywood people believe in them too. Spielberg is a big believer in aliens.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 06:03 PM (2x3L+)

62 how are they going to screen out moon, venus, mars, and jupiter while trying to detect something from several basizlliongoogleplex light years away?

How are they going to screen out irregularities in the earth's composition from 5 feet away?

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 09, 2016 06:03 PM (39g3+)

63 56 Hawking also says "the cow goes moo" so he's right about some things.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 09, 2016 06:02 PM (8ZskC)

But has he commented on the fox yet?

Posted by: No One of Consequence at February 09, 2016 06:04 PM (b0LbM)

64 Speaking of science, I made the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs!

Posted by: Ham Salad at February 09, 2016 06:04 PM (7Kbxu)

65 Is this the long shaft thread?

Posted by: Sandra Flook at February 09, 2016 06:04 PM (Dwehj)

66 This is a great discovery. However, it does not advance the rights of the lgbtqwertylmnop community in any way.

Next.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois Dump Trump! Luze with Cruz! at February 09, 2016 06:05 PM (WVsWD)

67 So how does this help the Grand Unified Theory?

And anyway, isn't this the story of Barack Obama?

Posted by: John P. Squibob at February 09, 2016 06:05 PM (DQZLr)

68 there probably is some sort of life somewhere else

but Hawkings sounds more and more like that guy in the corner of the bar pontificating to anyone within ear shot. All pronouncements like an oracle of delphi

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:05 PM (zOTsN)

69 Just Paypal-ed Ace $10.00 via "my other identity." Yay.

Posted by: Anonymous-9 at February 09, 2016 06:05 PM (vmHHv)

70 MY JUICES ARE STRONG!

Posted by: MIRROR UNIVERSE ROBO MARCO 2.0 at February 09, 2016 06:05 PM (XzRw1)

71 Ace sure delivered on the boobs yesterday. Will he do so again today?

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 06:06 PM (iQIUe)

72 I love science platonically...like in Three's Company.

Posted by: WOPR at February 09, 2016 06:06 PM (LTDSy)

73 but Hawkings sounds more and more like that guy in the corner of the bar pontificating to anyone within ear shot. All pronouncements like an oracle of delphi

Pfft.

Posted by: Richard Feynman at February 09, 2016 06:06 PM (8ZskC)

74
Hawking's main interest lies in getting his knob polished. The man is a true horndog.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 06:06 PM (iQIUe)

75 39 Hawkings also says humans may not last another 100 years. He says alot of stuff
Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 05:58 PM (zOTsN)

According to Ghostbusters II, the world will end this February 14th.

Posted by: Josephistan at February 09, 2016 06:06 PM (7qAYi)

76 Jena Malone has announced she's all in for Sanders, the hell with gender requirements. Apparently she's mistaken that gargantuan forhead in the mirror for a brain anyone cares to hear from.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 09, 2016 06:06 PM (39g3+)

77 Gravitational waves are important for a few reasons. One of those
reasons is that they would prove the existence of black holes, which are
"proven" now only by mathematics plus indirect indications.

Also, plots for 45% of Deep Space Nine episodes can't begin without them.

Posted by: Cover Me, Porkins at February 09, 2016 06:06 PM (TSHwi)

78
Damn it Szzyx! You dropped out of hyperspace too close to Earth! The food will hear us!

Posted by: The Space Lizard Meat Fleet

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 09, 2016 06:07 PM (kdS6q)

79 sadly once boobs are turned into radiation in the black hole they will be indistinguishable from all other radioactive particles

youse guys are gonna have to use your imaginations

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:07 PM (zOTsN)

80 Aliens? Has to be Aliens in the universe. Come on , the universe is big. Like really big, and every time we look, it gets bigger. so there has to be aliens out there in space.

We have people winning the lottery all the time, that shows you how the math works.

Posted by: Phoulish Phodie at February 09, 2016 06:07 PM (r4Zyw)

81 Hawking's main interest lies in getting his knob polished. The man is a true horndog.

Don't blame him, man.

*beep*

Posted by: Capt. Christopher Pike at February 09, 2016 06:07 PM (8ZskC)

82 Another great reason to support Trump!

Posted by: Make Aremica Grate again!!! at February 09, 2016 06:08 PM (1RNgT)

83 I found the mini series Childhood's End creepy. The idea that humans would roll over for an alien invasion and that the aliens looked like demons.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 06:08 PM (iQIUe)

84 LIGO has come a long way, when I was a kid they only had white and red normal blocks, blue and yellow small blocks. Sometimes you might get a set of wheels.

Posted by: Skip at February 09, 2016 06:08 PM (HWcaz)

85 Are you sure it wasn't the LEGO system of interconnecting blocks?

And speaking of black holes, did Hillary concede NH yet? Bill will want to know when he should start dinner.

Posted by: Hank at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (IFEDx)

86 It's too easy to mess up and it's not like someone else has another kilometer shaft to do the same thing.
Posted by: WOPR at February 09, 2016 06:03 PM (LTDSy)

A-hem!

Posted by: Peter North at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (7qAYi)

87 Did we, the US, build this long shaft thing, or do we have a long shaft gap?

Posted by: Phoulish Phodie at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (r4Zyw)

88 There are giant alien chickens out there and they're finger-lickin' good.

Posted by: Colonel Bernie Sanders at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (Dwehj)

89 Untouched but still, moving by gravitational waves from an object with huge mass -- the Rosie O'Donnell effect.

Posted by: Sphynx at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (OZmbA)

90 Hawkings sounds more and more like that guy in the corner of the bar pontificating to anyone within ear shot. All pronouncements like an oracle of delphi

That's all he's ever been. He's the guy that argues all existence came from nothing... slowly.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (39g3+)

91 Hawkings also says humans may not last another 100 years. He says alot of stuff

Honestly? He doesn't. His computer does. Just sayin'.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (Y42RP)

92 >>>> Hawking's main interest lies in getting his knob polished. The man is a true horndog.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 06:06
------
How is that physically possible? I thought he was nearly totally paralyzed.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 06:09 PM (2x3L+)

93 Hey baby, wanna see my L-shaped shaft?

Posted by: Bill Clinton at February 09, 2016 06:10 PM (3GAnN)

94

there should be a show with Hawkings at the strip club making scientific pronouncments and having guests appear like Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

Like Hugh Hefners old show but with scientists bullshitting

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:10 PM (zOTsN)

95 Seems like I read about the workings of an interferometer in my college physics text. So, it's a thing.

As to any "big announcement" from this crowd, I dunno. Seems like they deal in a lot of science fiction and Global Warming junk science.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 09, 2016 06:10 PM (/q6+P)

96 According to Ghostbusters II, the world will end this February 14th.

Ligo? Vigo? tell me that's just coincidence

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 09, 2016 06:11 PM (39g3+)

97 Did you say a long deep shaft? Let me get my strap-on.

Posted by: Neil DeGrasse Tyson at February 09, 2016 06:11 PM (OZmbA)

98 Hawkings is alive centuries from now. I saw it on Star Trek.

Posted by: WOPR at February 09, 2016 06:11 PM (LTDSy)

99
Looking forward to TWD returning. I sure hope Glenn stays with us. They've changed enough story lines from the comic, I dont see why they can't grant him clemency. Plus, they need an asian guy.

If I were the group, I would just kill myself. There is no purpose to life. No cure. No safe place. No one to rescue them. Plus, walkers are almost indestructible and are a renewable resource. And all it takes is one person dying in their sleep, and then biting every one else.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 06:11 PM (iQIUe)

100 But is it gopher proof?

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault whale at February 09, 2016 06:12 PM (0x/TW)

101 Cool stuff, Ace! Thanks for explaining the gist of it.

Posted by: Emmie at February 09, 2016 06:12 PM (ezXrF)

102 Getting maybe 3" of snow tonight, I hate winter

Posted by: Skip at February 09, 2016 06:12 PM (HWcaz)

103 As to any "big announcement" from this crowd, I dunno. Seems like they deal in a lot of science fiction and Global Warming junk science.

I don't think there are many meteorologists who do quantum field theory.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 09, 2016 06:12 PM (8ZskC)

104 Science fiction is such crap I chortle at those who read it. Honestly, wake up! Volunteer, do some good.

Posted by: Arthur C. Clarke at February 09, 2016 06:13 PM (u0o1v)

105 >>>How is that physically possible? I thought he was nearly totally paralyzed.

It's robotic too - similar to a retractable antenna on an Oldsmobile.

Posted by: Citizen Cake at February 09, 2016 06:13 PM (ppaKI)

106 Hawkings, Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Jocelyn Elders discussing space safe sex, in a strip club

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:13 PM (zOTsN)

107 Why are we still doing experiments like this? I thought the Science was settled for all things? No need to question or test. Just unthinkingly worship science.

Uh-Oh, I think I just heard a Sea Otter talk.

Posted by: buzzion at February 09, 2016 06:13 PM (z/Ubi)

108 Hawkings loves strip clubs and is a frequent visitor to Pedo Island

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:14 PM (zOTsN)

109 so does this mean they are any closer to finding out if a galaxy has a G Spot? What about Michael Moore? Are there any of him in other galaxies? And does the ruler of the Planet Skyron in the Andromeda Galaxy need a teleprompter or can he talk without artificial intelligence?
Also, maybe some other planet wants to trade one of their queens for Moochelle. I figure we can't lose on that deal.

Posted by: Satan of Cloggenstein Vt at February 09, 2016 06:15 PM (qSIlh)

110 Hawking is NOT like the guy at the end of the bar, talking to anyone that will listen.

You see, I really think I could kick Hawking's ass if it came down to it.

Posted by: Furious George at February 09, 2016 06:15 PM (3GAnN)

111 Didn't they stop to consider what digging kilometer long shafts & shooting laser beams will do to the indigenous Deros community?

Posted by: Josephistan at February 09, 2016 06:15 PM (7qAYi)

112 New pictures show Stephen Hawking enjoying the hospitality of Jeffrey Epstein on the private Caribbean island where Prince Andrew is alleged to have slept with an underage "sex slave".
The celebrated physicist can be seen at a barbecue on Little St James as well as taking a boat cruise and submarine tour of the sea bed off the island.
Epstein, 61, is said to have paid for the submarine to be modified for Professor Hawking, who had never been underwater before.
The Cambridge professor visited Epstein's "Island of Sin" in March 2006 shortly before the paedophile billionaire was charged by police in Palm Beach with unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Hawking was one of 21 internationally-renowned scientists attending a conference, funded by Epstein, on gravity at the Ritz-Carlton hotel on neighbouring island St Thomas.

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:15 PM (zOTsN)

113 Decision Desk has Gilmore losing to Other.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (oVJmc)

114 re 102: glad I'm not where you are. you aren't here, are you?

Posted by: Satan of Cloggenstein Vt at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (qSIlh)

115 >>>> Hawkings loves strip clubs and is a frequent visitor to Pedo Island
Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:14 PM
------
Ewww! Gross. Another dirty old man. Like we don't have enough famous one already.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (2x3L+)

116 That's some pretty scienc-y talk there, Ace, and you have it pretty much correct.

The reason the laser tracks are "L" shaped is to see in what direction the wave is travelling - the two legs will see different magnitudes of disturbance as a wave travels by depending on the wave's direction of travel relative to the whole interferometer.

I've never been able to figger out why an interferometer should work with G waves - shouldn't the squeezing of space also change the wavelength of the light, cancelling out the change in distance between the targets?

But I am just a lowly engineer, so what do I know?

Posted by: West at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (faDyS)

117 The experimental design does not remove all interferences.

The goal is the minimize them in both strength and number.

Ordinary things that interfere can be subtracted as noise.

The signal of the gravitational waves will stand out from the noise.

That is, if they correctly identify and understand all the sources of noise.

Posted by: eman at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (mR7Es)

118 Ground control to Major Tom. You're approaching a black hole and our LIGO Treaty won't protect you.

Do you copy, Major Tom?

Aw crap.

Posted by: Hank at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (IFEDx)

119

Posted by: MIRROR UNIVERSE ROBO MARCO 2.0 at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (XzRw1)

120 How do we know Hawking's really saying anything and it isn't just Bill Gates hijacking his software?

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 09, 2016 06:17 PM (oVJmc)

121 Should I tell them I saw some neighborhood kids jiggling their mirrors?

Nah.

Posted by: Dang at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (2oWD2)

122 If we can measure oscillation, we can build a bomb with it.

Posted by: Chris Balsz at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (4zXgv)

123 Posted by: West at February 09, 2016 06:16 PM (faDyS

The interferometer relies on the speed of light being constant.

Posted by: eman at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (mR7Es)

124 Hawkings loves strip clubs and is a frequent visitor to Pedo Island
Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:14 PM

---
Ugh.

I think my uterus just shriveled up.

Posted by: SMFH at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (rlfds)

125 Well, not to the eye. You have to do a bunch of math. But then you'll see it.

Do not look at math with remaining eye.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (uURQL)

126 they can make computer keyboards responsive to eye movements for ALS patients. It really is a miracle.

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (zOTsN)

127
How Does Stephen Hawkings Have Sex - with pictures!

https://goo.gl/K9sXFi

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (iQIUe)

128 Somehow there must be something about this new science that the Chris Christie campaign can use.

Posted by: joeclark77 at February 09, 2016 06:18 PM (HzVHG)

129 the dentist comment made me laugh.

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:19 PM (zOTsN)

130 You have to do a bunch of math. But then you'll see it.

Oh, jeesuz...we gotta do math?

Posted by: tu3031 at February 09, 2016 06:19 PM (YFFpo)

131 Democrat turnout in NH appears to be high according to CNN. Sounds as if Bernie is going to Schlong Hillary.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 09, 2016 06:19 PM (/tuJf)

132 Somehow there must be something about this new science that the Chris Christie campaign can use.

He's already predicting earthquakes using a sheep's bladder.

Posted by: Sir Bedevere at February 09, 2016 06:20 PM (8ZskC)

133 127
How Does Stephen Hawkings Have Sex - with pictures!

yeah, well, that's pretty much how I have sex - with pictures.

Posted by: Josephistan at February 09, 2016 06:20 PM (7qAYi)

134 A much bigger announcement would be the waves do not agree with theory. Then new science awaits.

Blowing up the Standard Model of physics (the Large Hadron Collider found Higgs bosons only in agreement with the Standard Model) would be a very big deal.

Agreement with theory is something of a nothing-burger for Physics.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 09, 2016 06:21 PM (u82oZ)

135 Besides Hawking, there were three Nobel laureates on the trips.
Among those pictured with Hawking on the boat cruise is Professor Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist who works at Arizona State University.
Legal documents have claimed that Epstein's properties were decorated with photographs of naked adolescent girls, but Professor Krauss said that he saw nothing of the sort.
He said that the conference "wouldn't have happened if Epstein hadn't funded it" and that Epstein continues to fund research and science education.
He said: "He's supporting some of the work at my institute."
He added that he would have had no idea about the court proceedings against Epstein if journalists had not contacted him.

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:21 PM (zOTsN)

136 How do we know Hawking's really saying anything and it isn't just Bill Gates hijacking his software?
Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 09, 2016 06:17 PM (oVJmc)

There's an interesting conspiracy theory that the Hawking now is an imposter.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster at February 09, 2016 06:21 PM (uURQL)

137 I've thought Hawking was more interested in press than he was in research for quite a long time. The press wanted him to be the next Einstein and he seemed to want to be that for them.

Posted by: buzzion at February 09, 2016 06:21 PM (z/Ubi)

138 This is a big, muscular, scientific rumor.

Posted by: Marc Ambinder at February 09, 2016 06:21 PM (2oWD2)

139 Neil Degrasse Tyson has sex on Hawking's behalf.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 09, 2016 06:21 PM (oVJmc)

140 Hawking has been confined to his wheelchair for too long and he's losing his fucking mind. The man needs handjobs on a regular basis. Isn't there a charity organization out there that will help to keep Stephen on an even keel?

Posted by: Fritz at February 09, 2016 06:22 PM (BngQR)

141 Two things;
A) this science stuff is awfully close to being math, and I don't need to remind any of you that I was told there would be no math, and
2) been traveling all day, whats up? Hillary! In prison?

Posted by: Weasel at February 09, 2016 06:22 PM (dCWTa)

142 Sounds as if Bernie is going to Schlong Hillary.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 09, 2016 06:19 PM (/tuJf)

Yeah, but does he have a kilometer long shaft?

Posted by: Peter North at February 09, 2016 06:22 PM (7qAYi)

143 Stephen Hawking? Muscular.

Posted by: Marc Ambinder at February 09, 2016 06:22 PM (2oWD2)

144 Wait wait wait, is this Common Core math we're talkin' about here?

No wonder it took so long to figger this out.

Posted by: Hank at February 09, 2016 06:22 PM (IFEDx)

145 Agreement with theory is something of a nothing-burger for Physics.

Think again, old chap.

Posted by: Sir Arthur Eddington at February 09, 2016 06:22 PM (8ZskC)

146 131 Democrat turnout in NH appears to be high according to CNN. Sounds as if Bernie is going to Schlong Hillary.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 09, 2016 06:19 PM (/tuJf)

===========
With the appearance of the pig, I think it "pork" would be a more appropriate word.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 09, 2016 06:22 PM (iQIUe)

147 Neil Degrasse Tyson has sex on Hawking's behalf.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel

puking now

hold my hair

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:23 PM (zOTsN)

148 That Hawkings is alive and functioning is a testament to modern medicine and technology. He seems like a miracle.

Also, CAC has Cruz, Trump, and Kasich in a 3 way tie with barely any votes counted

Posted by: L, Elle at February 09, 2016 06:23 PM (2x3L+)

149 re 132: I thought he got banned yesterday

Posted by: Satan of Cloggenstein Vt at February 09, 2016 06:23 PM (qSIlh)

150 It is a miracle that he is alive and that he can communicate at all is a testiment to the humanity of the west

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:24 PM (zOTsN)

151 Well, the HQ decision desk with their new fangled exit poll had better be able to call this New Hampshire voting the moment the polls close.

If we can dig a kilometer long shaft then we should be able to detect that Trump wins New Hampshire and so does Comrade Bernie.

So we can get on to South Carolina where the truth will come out.

Posted by: Phoulish Phodie at February 09, 2016 06:24 PM (r4Zyw)

152 Yes. this is all very interesting, but I can already fold space with my mind.

With my mind, Quaid.

Posted by: Joey 'Two Weeks' Biden at February 09, 2016 06:25 PM (JA5Qu)

153 Do not look at math with remaining eye.

...and there goes another perfectly good mouthful of Guinness...

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 09, 2016 06:26 PM (LUgeY)

154 If by fold space you really mean touch inappropriately, then more power to you, Uncle Joe.

Posted by: Walter Freeman at February 09, 2016 06:27 PM (21hN3)

155 Anyone mention YOUR BUTTHOLE yet?!

Hahahaha!

Wait, I told it wrong.

Posted by: Dang, meaning to say, "Uranus" at February 09, 2016 06:27 PM (2oWD2)

156 Mystery of the Universe solved by a mirrored ball. You're welcome, bitches.

Posted by: Disco at February 09, 2016 06:28 PM (2cS/G)

157 >>> A much bigger announcement would be the waves do not agree with theory. Then new science awaits.

Blowing up the Standard Model of physics (the Large Hadron Collider found Higgs bosons only in agreement with the Standard Model) would be a very big deal.

Agreement with theory is something of a nothing-burger for Physics.

...

einstein's equations have a really, really good track record though.

so does the standard model. i've read it's the most proven-and-reproven theory in history, despite everyone thinking it's ugly and kind of sucks and maybe can't be right.

Posted by: ace at February 09, 2016 06:30 PM (dciA+)

158 156 Something not quite right in your timing, or delivery or something. Maybe it was your inflection on "butthole". Not sure.

Posted by: Weasel at February 09, 2016 06:30 PM (dCWTa)

159 There's an interesting conspiracy theory that the Hawking now is an imposter.

The real Stephen Hawking died with Paul McCartney

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 09, 2016 06:31 PM (39g3+)

160 despite everyone thinking it's ugly and kind of sucks and maybe can't be right.

---------------

Does it have a nice smile? Maybe it's pretty on the inside.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at February 09, 2016 06:32 PM (kTF2Z)

161 Hawking also says Higg Boson could destroy the universe

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:33 PM (zOTsN)

162 i've read it's the most proven-and-reproven theory in history, despite everyone thinking it's ugly and kind of sucks and maybe can't be right.

How is anyone going to get their PhD if they don't attack the known and true?

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 09, 2016 06:34 PM (39g3+)

163 Must be time to renew grants.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 09, 2016 06:35 PM (MUDGs)

164 You know what else could destroy the universe? Rubio's positronic brain caught in a infinite regression.

Posted by: Fritz at February 09, 2016 06:35 PM (BngQR)

165 Maybe this standard theory is just big boned. Ever think of that?

Posted by: Duke Lowell at February 09, 2016 06:36 PM (kTF2Z)

166 theory shamers

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:36 PM (zOTsN)

167 160 despite everyone thinking it's ugly and kind of sucks and maybe can't be right.

---------------

Does it have a nice smile? Maybe it's pretty on the inside.
Posted by: Duke Lowell at February 09, 2016 06:32 PM (kTF2Z)

Must be rich. And funny. But mostly rich.

Posted by: buzzion at February 09, 2016 06:38 PM (z/Ubi)

168 Probably puts out too.

Posted by: buzzion at February 09, 2016 06:38 PM (z/Ubi)

169 standard model does butt stuff

Posted by: ThunderB at February 09, 2016 06:44 PM (zOTsN)

170 The laser tunnel is L-shaped to neutralize the complicating effect of the drift velocity of the "ether," the medium through which electromagnetic radiation travels. The ether has plagued mankind since the late 19th century, when an ill-considered physics experiment by Michelson and Morley released it from its age-old confinement.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at February 09, 2016 06:47 PM (fvvze)

171 The distance variation that LIGO is trying to measure is

1/1000 the diameter of a proton (!),

in a kilometer laser beam between masses.
That's amazing.

Posted by: gp at February 09, 2016 06:47 PM (mk9aG)

172 Glad some folks I enjoy reading stayed here.

Hey BB, think the two guys i do a singer/songwriter type show with, my age group, will get a laugh when bust out the laser light show I picked up on the cheap today?

Posted by: teej at February 09, 2016 06:48 PM (9KR27)

173 >> 106 Hawkings, Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Jocelyn Elders discussing space safe sex, in a strip club

Stripping everything else away, is that really a safe space?

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at February 09, 2016 06:52 PM (ml1PM)

174 The rumor mill was stirring with this several weeks ago.

This doesn't "prove the existence of black holes". Gravitational radiation is a key prediction of General Relativity, but so weak, that even after all these years it has never been directly observed. Huge massive binary systems, like two neutron stars should be losing energy via gravitational radiation and thus inspiralling. That inspiral has been observed, but not gravitational waves directly. Two black holes merging should create the most enormous burst of gravitational radiation ever, as well.

Again, doesn't prove the existence of black holes. Just verifies a key prediction of General Relativity by direct observation.

As Joe Biden would say, this is a big effin' deal. YUGE. A wonderful 100 birthday present for General Relativity.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at February 09, 2016 06:52 PM (dvuhZ)

175 Also... it's important to remember these waves were NOT discovered UNTIL the outreach to Muslims initiative by NASA. Coincidence? I think not.

Posted by: Yip at February 09, 2016 06:54 PM (e7T6D)

176 To give you an idea of how weak gravitational radiation is in under weak field conditions, the sun-earth orbit is radiating at about 300W power. That's 3 100W light bulb. It would take about 60 ages of the universe for the earth to inspiral into the sun due to that low orbital energy loss.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at February 09, 2016 06:54 PM (dvuhZ)

177 What's the difference between D.C., Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland and black holes in outer space?

Posted by: Yip at February 09, 2016 06:55 PM (e7T6D)

178 177, they all suck?

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault whale at February 09, 2016 06:56 PM (0x/TW)

179 and hard

Posted by: Yip at February 09, 2016 06:59 PM (e7T6D)

180 Black holes may have intelligent life?
Just a shot in the dark.

Posted by: teej at February 09, 2016 06:59 PM (9KR27)

181 BUT, is the science settled settled?

Posted by: Hrothgar at February 09, 2016 07:00 PM (wYnyS)

182 No, no. The only reason that we care about gravitational waves is because they have the potential for communications at faster than the speed of light. That's it. Period. Unless you count the cool involved.

Just as the universe expanded at the time of it's creation, much, much, much faster than at the speed of light (you know, the unbreakable speed limit that we are constrained to believe in), just so does a gravitational wave give us an opportunity to hope for a day when we can go there, be there, exist there, before we are dead and just a bag of bones. If these physics are true, it shows us the way to a warp engine, an Alcubierre drive of some sort. There then becomes a reason to hope, to dream on, to strive.

It's either this or hand grenades .... Ah, fuck it!

Posted by: goon at February 09, 2016 07:00 PM (gy5kE)

183 I had a physics professor who designed the original gravity wave experiment. It was large solid steel cylinders with piezoelectric strain gauges glued over their entire outer sufaces. They cylinders were separated by a considerable distance and hooked up so that a coincidental flex in multiple cylinders would be detected, separated by an appropriate delay (the waves are predicted to travel at the speed of light).

I don't think they ever got an unambiguous signal, but he got a Nobel prize for that.

He was pretty old when I took the class. His class persona was absent-minded professor. Once or twice his experiments fell apart on the first try (e.g. Crossman CO2 pistol blew the kleenex out of his ballistic pendulum), and a couple of times he got lost in the weeds proving math that didn't really need to be done in the lecture. He was O.K., just he had that cliche come to life aspect.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at February 09, 2016 07:01 PM (fvvze)

184 Posted by: Walter Freeman at February 09, 2016 06:27 PM (21hN3)

Show me where on the interferometer Uncle Joe touched you!

Posted by: Hrothgar at February 09, 2016 07:03 PM (wYnyS)

185 You should not swim against gravitational waves. Swim parallel, to, um, the...

Posted by: Weasel at February 09, 2016 07:12 PM (dCWTa)

186 I believe L Shaped Shaft is Bill Clinton's boudoir name.

Posted by: Grump928(C) can likewise assert shit at February 09, 2016 07:14 PM (rwI+c)

187
There you go again with those negative waves....

Now, listen to my dog imitation.

Woof! Woof!

Posted by: OddBall at February 09, 2016 07:19 PM (o98Jz)

188 "If you can measure that noise, you can subtract that noise out of your measurements" - NOAA

Posted by: Steve at February 09, 2016 07:44 PM (+jHI5)

189 Finally detected a fringe shift with an interferometer, bitchiz!

Posted by: Albert A. Michelson at February 09, 2016 10:12 PM (4cBw4)

190 Hell yeah!

Posted by: Edward W. Morley at February 09, 2016 10:13 PM (4cBw4)

191 So the weights were violent criminals and they had be to "hanged".

Posted by: Dave H at February 10, 2016 10:42 AM (xMMIg)

192 I'm still not getting that flying car, am I?

Posted by: Actual Future vs. Movie & Cartoon Future at February 10, 2016 10:44 AM (uzNN5)

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