Gravitational waves — did scientists just make a massive physics discovery?

Long circulating rumors, combined with a tweet by well-known Arizona State University Theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss yesterday morning, have been seen as indicators that scientists may be gearing up to announce one of the most historic discoveries in the history of physics: the detection of gravitational waves.

According to Discovery, Krauss’ tweet read: “My earlier rumor about LIGO has been confirmed by independent sources. Stay tuned! Gravitational waves may have been discovered!! Exciting.”

The LIGO Krauss is referring to is the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, and in September of last year he tweeted the “earlier rumor” he refers to in his recent tweet.

“Rumor of a gravitational wave detection on the LIGO detector. Amazing if true. Will post details if it survives,” he said in the tweet.

LIGO’s detector, which is split between two locations in Louisiana and Washington, recently underwent a hefty upgrade which improved the tech’s sensitivity. As a result, the scientific community is hopeful that gravitational waves, which were theorized to exist by Albert Einstein, have finally been discovered.

This discovery, if true, is predicted to usher in a new era of gravitational wave astronomy.

The general theory is that any acceleration of massive objects in the universe will generate gravitational waves, which scientist’s have been unable to detect. Events like black holes, neutron star collisions, supernovae and galactic mergers are all thought to be a huge source of gravitational waves.

Should scientists develop the ability to detect these waves, it may lead to a way to map the most massive objects and most energetic events in the universe.

While Einstein’s early theories about gravitational waves were developed over 100 years ago, since then only indirect evidence of the phenomenon has been observed. The recent sensitivity upgrade of the LIGO detectors might have been enough to finally measure gravitational waves directly and provide the evidence needed to prove Einstein’s theory.

However, direct evidence has yet to be announced. Critics advise being wary of the rumors until they have been officially announced by LIGO, whose comments on the matter haven’t confirmed anything one way or the other.