1. Joined
    02 Jan '06
    Moves
    12857
    09 Feb '16 01:07
    http://www.techinsider.io/gravitational-wave-nature-ligo-february-11-2016-2

    If true, should this win a Nobel?
  2. Joined
    29 Mar '09
    Moves
    816
    09 Feb '16 03:19
    Originally posted by whodey
    http://www.techinsider.io/gravitational-wave-nature-ligo-february-11-2016-2

    If true, should this win a Nobel?
    Why does it have to be true for a Nobel?
  3. Standard memberDeepThought
    Losing the Thread
    Quarantined World
    Joined
    27 Oct '04
    Moves
    87415
    09 Feb '16 20:32
    Originally posted by joe beyser
    Why does it have to be true for a Nobel?
    I can invent any number of untrue theories, none of them will help the world terribly. The purpose of science is to explain the world. If the theory, or experiment (I haven't followed the link in the OP yet), improves our understanding of the world and increases our power over nature then it is deserving. To do that it has to be true, within the criteria science sets for itself for truth which is generally along the lines of "a better approximation than the last one.".
  4. Standard memberDeepThought
    Losing the Thread
    Quarantined World
    Joined
    27 Oct '04
    Moves
    87415
    09 Feb '16 20:39
    I've read the article now. If this is what has happened it is, if anything, more important than the confirmation of the existence of the Higgs Boson. It puts most Physics Nobel prizes to shame.

    The "if true" part is whether the speculation of the journalists is true, not the actual detection.
  5. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
    Joined
    28 Dec '04
    Moves
    53223
    09 Feb '16 20:543 edits
    Originally posted by DeepThought
    I've read the article now. If this is what has happened it is, if anything, more important than the confirmation of the existence of the Higgs Boson. It puts most Physics Nobel prizes to shame.

    The "if true" part is whether the speculation of the journalists is true, not the actual detection.
    There is also another controversy up in the air right now. GR Vs G4V. There is an alternate version of gravity by C. Mead, a professor at Caltech, one of his claims to fame is ."Moore's law'. Anyway, here is his theory and the gravity guys at LIGO are in tune with it:

    YouTube

    I think you all should watch this video

    Man, that was a fast hour!
  6. Joined
    24 Apr '10
    Moves
    15242
    11 Feb '16 15:591 edit
    So, they've been detected.

    A nice explanation for the general public such as myself: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/12150944/Gravitational-waves-Einstein-was-right-and-this-announcement-is-the-scientific-highlight-of-the-decade.html
  7. Joined
    06 Mar '12
    Moves
    642
    11 Feb '16 16:333 edits
    http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2016/feb/11/ligo-detects-first-ever-gravitational-waves-from-two-merging-black-holes

    Not only did the conclusively detect gravity waves, they detected them traveling at the speed of light which clearly implies gravity travels as the speed of light.
  8. Subscribermoonbus
    รœber-Nerd
    Joined
    31 May '12
    Moves
    8142
    11 Feb '16 16:53
    Why it matters:

    http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35524440

    interview with Hawking.
  9. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
    Joined
    28 Dec '04
    Moves
    53223
    11 Feb '16 17:03
    Originally posted by humy
    http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2016/feb/11/ligo-detects-first-ever-gravitational-waves-from-two-merging-black-holes

    Not only did the conclusively detect gravity waves, they detected them traveling at the speed of light which clearly implies gravity travels as the speed of light.
    http://phys.org/news/2016-02-gravitational-years-einstein.html

    7 millisecond difference between signals, says it is in the southern hemisphere.
  10. Cape Town
    Joined
    14 Apr '05
    Moves
    52945
    11 Feb '16 19:35
    And in case anyone was wondering what was detected in the waves:
    http://xkcd.com/1642/
    ๐Ÿ™‚
  11. Cape Town
    Joined
    14 Apr '05
    Moves
    52945
    11 Feb '16 19:42
    From the article:
    About three times the mass of the sun was converted into gravitational waves in a fraction of a second—with a peak power output about 50 times that of the whole visible universe.

    Could dark energy be in gravitational waves?
  12. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
    Joined
    28 Dec '04
    Moves
    53223
    11 Feb '16 19:43
    Originally posted by twhitehead
    And in case anyone was wondering what was detected in the waves:
    http://xkcd.com/1642/
    ๐Ÿ™‚
    Hehe, good one๐Ÿ™‚ It does bring up a question, would it take a god to modulate a gravity wave that could be detected and demodulated on Earth so actual information could be send via gravity waves?
Back to Top

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.I Agree