Scientists try to stay grounded amid rumors that gravitational waves were discovered

[Katashi_itto]

Cossmologist tweet appears to confirm rumors of possible discovery that could ‘open a new window on the universe’

Not for the first time, the world of physics is abuzz with rumors that gravitational waves have been detected by scientists in the US.

Lawrence Krauss, a cosmologist at Arizona State university, tweeted that he had received independent confirmation of a rumor that has been in circulation for months, adding: “Gravitational waves may have been discovered!!”

The excitement centers on a longstanding experiment known as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) which uses detectors in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana to look for ripples in the fabric of spacetime.

According to the rumors, scientists on the team are in the process of writing up a paper that describes a gravitational wave signal. If such a signal exists and is verified, it would confirm one of the most dramatic predictions of Albert Einstein’s century-old theory of general relativity.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/scientists-try-to-stay-grounded-amid-rumors-that-gravitational-waves-were-discovered/

[jonno99]

1. Cool story. btw - Insterstellar is one of my favorite (newer) movies...nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. What is the value of such a discovery ...

Science for Dummies version, please.

[Xipe Totec]

4. It's another instrument to probe the universe

To see into places where light is blocked or obscured.

It will give us a deeper understanding of how the universe works.

What practical (engineering) applications it may have is yet to be seen.

[shraby]

5. There is a long article on wikipedia for the waves if you want to tackle it.

It's above my pay grade.

[closeupready]

14. I think the takeaway is maybe this:

that if gravity has waves, then it's not simply a force, it's a material thing that can be manipulated by other things, i.e., scientists.

I'm probably completely wrong on that, but I'd appreciate corrections from anyone here who has a better understanding.

On edit, I think I was, yet again, completely wrong, lol - here's a Guardian article from 2014 that helps shed light:

How can gravitational waves be detected?

A telescope at the south pole, called Bicep (Background Imaging of cosmic Extragalactic Polarisation), has been searching for evidence of gravitational waves by detecting a subtle property of the cosmic microwave background radiation. This radiation was produced in the big bang. It was originally discovered by American scientists in 1964 using a radio telescope and has been called the "echo" of the big bang. Bicep has measured the large-scale polarisation of this microwave radiation. Only primordial gravitational waves can imprint such a pattern, and only then if they have been amplified by inflation.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/mar/17/gravitational-waves-bicep-inflation-big-bang

[KingCharlemagne]

22. Sorry, I'm not interested in 'primoridal' gravitational waves. I want one that I can

surf on out of here if Trump is inaugurated in 2017.

[Orrex]

21. Clearly you don't appreciate the situation of the gravity

Neither do I, to be honest!

[randome]

24. It's a massive subject that just pulls at some.

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[Orrex]

26. It's definitely worth the weight

[randome]

41. Once they figure out how to make money from this, everyone will want to be riding the gravity train.

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[KingCharlemagne]

25. LOL - Clever, you are! - nt

[jonno99]

31. Ha - excellent! nt

[vanlassie]

42. You're pulling my leg!

[Hortensis]

43. I'll understand better when a Gravimaster

takes up residence in my kitchen.

[KamaAina]

3. I've always hypothesized that gravity works like electromagnetism

i.e. it can be repulsive as well as attractive. If that ever panned out, you could eject objects from Earth at the good old 32 ft./sec. squared.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. I SAID science for Dummies ...

"good old 32 ft./sec. squared" ... Speed of light?

[KamaAina]

7. Acceleration of gravity

and I wasn't replying to you.

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. Oh, okay ... But still ... I want to understand what is being said ... LOL.

[KamaAina]

9. The interesting thing is that it would take someone more scientifically literate than myself

to give you Science for Dummies(TM).

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. Where is Neil DeGrasse when I need him?!? eom

[opiate69]

23. Right here.

[1StrongBlackMan]

30. Whoa ... Thanks! eom.

[opiate69]

33. You're quite welcome.

I only wish I wasn't at work so I could watch the entire series lol

[Wounded Bear]

11. That is how fast gravity acts on matter on the Earth...

so, to push that to it's next level of practical application, that is the acceleration that needs to be surpassed to get off the planet, as in a rocket. If a rocket accelerated at exactly 32 ft/second squared, it would hover just above the launch pad. Accelerate more and it starts to rise. Less and it drops back.

So if we could measure and manipulate gravity waves-assuming they do exist-we could maybe find a cheaper and safer way to boost things into space than our current method of chemical rockets.

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. Ahhh. Thanks. eom.

[Wounded Bear]

13. You're welcome...

I know some of these concepts are not taught well in our schools and many people get confused by it. Our media seldom helps.

NdGT is the man!

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. I'll tell you ...

As a Dyslexic, I learned to avoid all things Math, by the 8th grade. I took the 4 required science courses in High School and 2 other (required courses) in more than more than 10 years of under-grad and graduate school. I avoided science and anything relating to numbers ... until I took and fell in love with Research Methods/Statistics in grad school.

[Wounded Bear]

44. I can see why such subjects would be difficult for you...

Thankfully, people like NdGT are good at explaining things for the layman. He's a treasure.

[1StrongBlackMan]

45. Funny ...

good at explaining things for the layman. He's a treasure.

Those were my exact words to Mrs. 1SBM ... last night.

[Wounded Bear]

46. He has picked up the torch from Carl Sagan...

another of the great Scientists for the common man. He's pretty witty, too.

[Katashi_itto]

18. And as Wounded Bear says if gravity is able to be manipulated...then can it be harnessed?

Turned off? Increased? Wondrous possibilities become evident then on the horizon.

[ProfessorGAC]

17. One Other Note

In relativistic theory, the movement precipitated only needs to have the energy needed to generate the "mass" represented by the waves.

Since you would only need a very localized field to exert this "force" the energy required would be fairly low (relatively speaking) to get a craft to VERY high rates of speed. Since we don't know enough about the waves, it could still be an enormous amount of energy making fuel loads still problematic.

On top of that, if you could manipulate gravity waves, it could allow for very deep space exploration because these "ships" would have their own source of gravity, meaning very long voyages wouldn't have to be at zero g.

Lastly, since one of the theories behind why stars generate fusion so efficiently is that their mass causes enormous pressures and allows the building of very high localized temperature at the core, that "artificial" gravity could be a means to controlling small fusion systems. We all know what such cheap energy, using water as a fuel source, could mean.

[Katashi_itto]

19. One wonders at such gravitional pressures if space/time itself becomes almost meaningless, within

the heart of a star.

[ProfessorGAC]

35. It Does At The Event Horizon of A Black Hole

So, in the heart of a star, you would think it's getting there.

[Katashi_itto]

40. Agree, its off the scale at the Event Horizon.

End Scene of "Sunshine" The Quantum Bomb is dropping into our sun carrying the surviving crew members down with it...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

16. An object in free-fall in the earth's atmosphere will accelerate at 32 feet per second, per second.

9.8m/s2 is the metric equivalent.

In a perfect vacuum, assuming no "ground", the object would continue to accelerate. But because of the particles in our atmosphere, falling objects have a "terminal velocity", which I think is around 180MPH.

[hunter]

29. Terminal velocity depends on the shape, size, and density of an object.

Think feather vs. cannonball.

Many smaller animals can fall out of tall trees and walk away unharmed.

People can decrease their own terminal velocity with wing suits.

We humans still need something soft to land on if we expect to survive.

[jonno99]

32. ...which of course is the main "thrust" of the movie Interstellar(?)

IOW (for those who haven't seen the movie) - how do you get something REALLY BIG off of a dying planet?

[KamaAina]

34. I had not even heard of this movie

[jonno99]

36. Oops - my appologies! I thought I was replying to the OP (your monikers both start with 'KA').

Sigh - short-term memory issues...

[KamaAina]

37. If only.

I'd be some sort of entertainment guy in NOLA. Of course, then he'd be stuck in a cube farm in San Jose.

[longship]

38. I love this dialog. 1SBM and KA, you are wonderful.

And BTW, here's NdGT!

I love you all.

[randome]

20. At last! Anti-gravity yoga might become reality!

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[KingCharlemagne]

28. FTW - LMAO :) - nt

[Katashi_itto]

27. From the Movie "Sunshine" (Adagio in D Minor) - [Super Extended]

[randome]

39. Beautiful movie.

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[Yavin4]

47. Aliens' response: "Oh shit, they're going to find us!" n/t