Five Myths About Gravitational Waves

The scientists behind the BICEP2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) telescope, last year made an extraordinary claim that they had detected gravitational waves, which are ripples in space-time.
Five Myths About Gravitational Waves
Elegant but elusive. Simulation of merging black holes showing gravitational waves. Henze, NASA via Wikimedia Commons
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The scientists behind the BICEP2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) telescope last year made an extraordinary claim that they had detected gravitational waves, which are ripples in space-time. Initially hailed as the most groundbreaking discovery of the century, it later proved a false alarm: the signal was merely galactic dust.

So are we likely to ever find gravitational waves? And would they really provide irrefutable evidence for the Big Bang? Here are five common myths and misconceptions about gravitational waves.

1. Setbacks Are Just Due to Teething Problems

It may seem like the search for gravitational waves has only just begun, but it has actually been going on for decades without success.

Gravitational waves are pulsating perturbations, or “ripples” produced in the fabric of space-time as a massive object moves through it. As they propagate, they stretch and squash objects, albeit on a subatomic scale. Scientists have therefore been trying to demonstrate the existence of gravitational waves by looking at how nearby objects are affected.

A passing gravitational wave stretches and squashes objects in its path. (Public Domain)
A passing gravitational wave stretches and squashes objects in its path. Public Domain
Siri Chongchitnan
Siri Chongchitnan
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