The Quanta Podcast Gravitational Waves Discovered at Long Last
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Feb 18, 2016 Scientists celebrate the first direct detection of ripples in space-time and the thrilling September 2015 chirp that made it real. The conversation explores how kilometer-scale interferometers measure unimaginably tiny distortions and the long history of skepticism and clever fixes. Alternative ideas about black holes called fuzzballs and their implications for information and horizons are also highlighted.
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Extraordinary Sensitivity Made Detection Possible
- Advanced LIGO measured arm-length changes as tiny as one thousandth the width of a proton to detect gravitational waves.
- This extreme sensitivity made detection possible despite waves stretching space by far less than an atomic nucleus.
Black Hole Mergers Produce Audible Chirps
- Black hole mergers emit 'chirps' that rise in pitch and amplitude until the merger abruptly ends.
- Those chirps fall in the audible range and can be recreated as piano notes.
Detections Hint At Unexpected Black Hole Population
- Early detections suggest there are more and/or heavier stellar black holes than some models expected.
- Opening a new observational window often reveals unexpected populations and phenomena.
