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Gravitational Waves
So far, gravitational waves have revealed stellar mass black holes and neutron stars, plus a cosmic background. So much more is coming.
Although many of Einstein's papers revolutionized physics, there's one Einsteinian advance, generally, that towers over all the rest.
Today, supermassive black holes and their host galaxies tell a specific story in terms of mass. But JWST reveals a different story early on.
Thanks to observations of gravitational waves, scientists were able to settle a longstanding debate over the speed of gravity.
Some 13.8 billion years ago, the Universe became hot, dense, and filled with high-energy quanta all at once. Here's what it was like.
Bang bang all over the Universe.
All matter particles can act as waves, and massless light waves show particle-like behavior. Can gravitational waves also be particle-like?
For the first time, astronomers have created a data-driven estimate for how many black holes are in our Universe: more than anyone expected.
There's a quantum limit to how precisely anything can be measured. By squeezing light, LIGO has now surpassed all previous limitations.
5mins
NASA’s Michelle Thaller explains what happens when the densest stars in the galaxy collide.
This measurement is crucial to confirm that one of the assumptions of Einstein’s theory of gravity is valid.
An annular eclipse is coming to Earth on October 14, 2023. Six months later, a total solar eclipse is headed our way. Here's the reason why.
Dark matter hasn't been directly detected, but some form of invisible matter is clearly gravitating. Could the graviton hold the answer?
Newton thought that gravitation would happen instantly, propagating at infinite speeds. Einstein showed otherwise; gravity isn't instant.
5mins
Gravity defies quantum mechanics. What does that mean for a theory of everything?
How scientists are hearing the gravitational background "hum" of the Universe for the very first time.
Even with the quantum rules governing the Universe, there are limits to what matter can withstand. Beyond that, black holes are unavoidable.
What are supermassive black holes, how common are they, and how do they grow up throughout cosmic history? Listen and find out!
Some 55 million light-years away lies the giant galaxy Messier 87. Its supermassive black hole, inside and out, looks better than ever.
After 15 years of monitoring 68 objects known as millisecond pulsars, we've found the Universe's background gravitational wave signal!
In a distant galaxy, a cosmic dance between two supermassive black holes emits periodic flashes of light.
The odds are slim, but the consequences would be literally world-ending. There really is a chance of a black hole devouring the Earth.
Contrary to common experience, not everything needs a medium to travel through. Overcoming that assumption removes the need for an aether.
Stars orbiting black holes were observed to move significantly slower than expected. One explanation centers on dark matter.
Gamma-ray bursts are among the most energetic cosmic events of all. On October 9, 2022, a remarkable one occurred: the brightest ever seen.
Speeding through the Universe and leaving a wake of new stars, this runaway supermassive black hole is likely the first among thousands.
When supermassive black holes merge, they emit more energy than anything else to occur in our Universe except the Big Bang.
Many people out there, including scientists, claim to have discovered a series of game-changing revolutions. Here's why we don't buy it.
In just a few seconds, a gamma-ray burst blasts out the same amount of energy that the Sun will radiate throughout its entire life.
Ever since the Big Bang, cataclysmic events have released enormous amounts of energy. Here's the greatest one ever witnessed.