A new study suggests ancient stochastic gravitational waves from the early universe may have generated low-mass fermions that later evolved into dark matter. This offers a fresh explanation for one of the biggest mysteries, linking cosmic ripples to unseen matter shaping the universe.

How early-universe gravitational waves may have formed dark matter: New study reveals surprising link

<p>Astronomers have picked up a gravitational-wave signal originating from a dramatic collision deep in the cosmos. The event, dubbed GW230529, was recorded by the LIGO Livingston detector in May 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gravitational waves are caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as merging black holes or neutron stars. According to Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, massive objects like planets, stars, and black holes distort the fabric of spacetime around them.</p>

<p>When these massive objects accelerate or change speed, they create waves that propagate outward at the speed of light.&nbsp;The detection of gravitational waves opens up a new window for observing the universe, allowing scientists to study phenomena that were previously inaccessible, such as the mergers of black holes and neutron stars, as well as the nature of gravity itself.</p>

<p>GW230529, which happened due to the collision of a neutron star with an object falling into the "mass gap" between neutron stars and black holes, challenges prior assumptions about the prevalence of such events.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-highly-detailed-3d-map-of-universe-with-6-million-galaxies-can-unravel-mysteries-of-dark-matter-708292">New highly-detailed 3D map of universe with 6 million galaxies can unravel mysteries of dark matter</a></p>

<p>Assistant&nbsp;Professor at the University of British Columbia Dr Jess McIver pointed out that the discovery "reveals that there may be a higher rate of similar collisions between neutron stars and low-mass black holes than we previously thought."</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/glory-effect-rare-rainbow-like-rings-observed-on-a-planet-outside-our-solar-system-708284">Glory effect: Rare rainbow-like rings observed on a planet outside our solar system</a></p>

<p>It is the first time such a gravitational wave detection involving a mass-gap object paired with a neutron star has been observed.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Neutron stars</strong></h2>

<p>Neutron stars typically have masses ranging from about 1.4 to 2 times that of the Sun. This density means that just a teaspoonful of neutron star material would weigh billions of tonnes on Earth.</p>

<p>They also have incredibly strong magnetic fields, trillions of times stronger than Earth's magnetic field. These characteristics make neutron stars a focus of study for astrophysicists trying to understand extreme conditions in the universe.</p>

<section>
<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-cancer-treatment-breakthrough-india-makes-a-mark-on-global-map-708351">India's Cancer treatment breakthrough | India makes a mark on global map</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-cancer-treatment-breakthrough-india-makes-a-mark-on-global-map-708351/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Despite the excitement surrounding GW230529, pinpointing its exact source remains elusive. The detection, made just five days into the observing run, took place at 650 million light-years from Earth</p>
</section>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Astronomers have picked up a gravitational-wave signal originating from a dramatic collision deep in the cosmos. The event, dubbed GW230529, was recorded by the LIGO Livingston detector in May 2023.

Astronomers have picked up a gravitational-wave signal originating from a dramatic collision deep in the cosmos. The event, dubbed GW230529, was recorded by the LIGO Livingston detector in May 2023. Gravitational waves are caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as merging black holes or neutron stars. According to Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, massive objects like planets, stars, and black holes distort the fabric of spacetime around them. When these massive objects accelerate or change speed, they create waves that propagate outward at the speed of light. The detection of gravitational waves opens up a new window for observing the universe, allowing scientists to study phenomena that were previously inaccessible, such as the mergers of black holes and neutron stars, as well as the nature of gravity itself. GW230529, which happened due to the collision of a neutron star with an object falling into the "mass gap" between neutron stars and black holes, challenges prior assumptions about the prevalence of such events. Also Read | New highly-detailed 3D map of universe with 6 million galaxies can unravel mysteries of dark matter Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia Dr Jess McIver pointed out that the discovery "reveals that there may be a higher rate of similar collisions between neutron stars and low-mass black holes than we previously thought." Also Read | Glory effect: Rare rainbow-like rings observed on a planet outside our solar system It is the first time such a gravitational wave detection involving a mass-gap object paired with a neutron star has been observed. Neutron stars Neutron stars typically have masses ranging from about 1.4 to 2 times that of the Sun. This density means that just a teaspoonful of neutron star material would weigh billions of tonnes on Earth. They also have incredibly strong magnetic fields, trillions of times stronger than Earth's magnetic field. These characteristics make neutron stars a focus of study for astrophysicists trying to understand extreme conditions in the universe. Watch | India's Cancer treatment breakthrough | India makes a mark on global map × Despite the excitement surrounding GW230529, pinpointing its exact source remains elusive. The detection, made just five days into the observing run, took place at 650 million light-years from Earth (With inputs from agencies)

Deep space collision  650 million light-years away sends gravitational-wave signal

<p>Universe is full of mysteries and wonders. We started our journey centuries ago and have reached where we are today with the help of our ever-evolving scientific prowess.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We found proof of gravitational waves relatively recently. These are the waves that can move the very fabric of the spacetime. But as we know, a discovery opens up new vistas which requires more learning on our part as we dive into the sea of science.</p>

<p>After we got proof of the gravitational waves, the work of searching for the source of the spacetime ripples these waves cause, began.</p>

<p>The primary suspects of what causes this gravitational waves are pairings of supermassive black holes. These have masses millions or even billions of times that of the sun.</p>

<p>But scientists are looking curiously at other possible sources as well. And if these indeed are sources of gravitational waves, we may be opening up an entirely new field of study.</p>

<p>Space. com has reported that researchers from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) collaboration analysed 68 rapidly spinning neutron stars (pulsars).&nbsp;These pulsar send radiation Earth's way at regular intervals. This makes pulsars a very precise 'cosmic clock' which is called "pulsar timing array'.</p>

<p>The squashing and squeezing of spacetime fabric due to gravitational waves when combined with pulsar timing array creates a detectable signal or "spectra" which can be studied by the scientists.</p>

<p>"The biggest thing that sets these gravitational waves detected by NANOGrav apart is the wavelength. These gravitational waves are much longer," Scott Ransom, a National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) astronomer and former chair of NANOGrav.</p>

<p>He was quoted by Space. com</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Universe is full of mysteries and wonders. We started our journey centuries ago and have reached where we are today with the help of our ever-evolving scientific prowess.

Universe is full of mysteries and wonders. We started our journey centuries ago and have reached where we are today with the help of our ever-evolving scientific prowess. We found proof of gravitational waves relatively recently. These are the waves that can move the very fabric of the spacetime. But as we know, a discovery opens up new vistas which requires more learning on our part as we dive into the sea of science. After we got proof of the gravitational waves, the work of searching for the source of the spacetime ripples these waves cause, began. The primary suspects of what causes this gravitational waves are pairings of supermassive black holes. These have masses millions or even billions of times that of the sun. But scientists are looking curiously at other possible sources as well. And if these indeed are sources of gravitational waves, we may be opening up an entirely new field of study. Space. com has reported that researchers from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) collaboration analysed 68 rapidly spinning neutron stars (pulsars). These pulsar send radiation Earth's way at regular intervals. This makes pulsars a very precise 'cosmic clock' which is called "pulsar timing array'. The squashing and squeezing of spacetime fabric due to gravitational waves when combined with pulsar timing array creates a detectable signal or "spectra" which can be studied by the scientists. "The biggest thing that sets these gravitational waves detected by NANOGrav apart is the wavelength. These gravitational waves are much longer," Scott Ransom, a National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) astronomer and former chair of NANOGrav. He was quoted by Space. com You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Supermassive black holes may solve the puzzle of gravitational waves

<p>Astronomers used a galaxy-sized antenna of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way to spot low-frequency <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/for-first-time-scientists-hear-sound-of-gravitational-waves-610001">gravitational waves</a> for the first time in history. The "background hum" is rumbling throughout the universe and it is the first evidence of a long-theorised form of gravitational waves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This becomes a notable event in the history of astrophysics - all thanks to the breakthrough made by hundreds of scientists using radio telescopes in North America, Europe, China, India and Australia after years of work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The day has been hailed as a major milestone that opens a new window into the universe as it comes around eight years after scientists spotted the elusive ripples in space-time.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are gravitational waves?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Astrophysicists have previously stated that gravitational waves are 'ripples' in space-time created by some of the universe's most destructive and intense activities. It is also an attestation of what Albert Einstein had predicted in 1916, in his general theory of relativity.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wion-exclusive-chandrayaan-3-launch-on-july-13-lunar-landing-by-august-end-609776">Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 13, lunar landing by August-end</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Theory of relativity</h2>

<p>Einstein's theories are said to be one of the most important papers ever published in the field of physics. In layman's terms, the theory of relativity consists of two interrelated physics theories; special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity applies to all physical phenomena in the absence of gravity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, general relativity describes the law of gravitation and its relationship to natural forces. It applies to cosmology and astrophysics, especially astronomy. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The general theory of relativity is a major building block of modern physics and is related to gravity, which is one of the fundamental forces in the universe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It basically talks about the force of gravity and how it arises from the curvature of space and time. Well, an elaborated mathematical formula is followed, which is for the experts, not us. We need to understand the latest announcement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/europes-space-telescope-to-target-universes-dark-mysteries-610172">Europe's space telescope to target universe's dark mysteries</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2>What do we know about the latest finding?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As mentioned earlier, gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of the universe that travel through everything at the speed of light almost entirely unimpeded. However, their existence was not confirmed until 2015, when the US and Italian observatories detected the first gravitational waves created by two black holes colliding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These "high-frequency" waves were caused by a single explosive event that sent a powerful, brief burst rippling towards Earth. However, scientists have been looking for low-frequency gravitational waves, which are considered to be constantly rolling across space like background noise, for decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To know more about the phenomenon, scientists joined forces under the banner of the International Pulsar Timing Array consortium and worked at gravitational wave detectors on several continents. They finally revealed on Thursday that they have found strong evidence of these background waves.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/monster-gravitational-waves-spotted-for-the-first-time-610216/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens said, "As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then these times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Siemens is a co-director of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), a collaboration of more than 190 scientists from the United States and Canada who worked to monitor the gravitational wave signals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gravitational waves, as well as ghostly subatomic particles known as neutrinos, allow for a more thorough exploration of the universe. Seven years ago, physicists revealed that the&nbsp;gravitational waves were&nbsp;generated by two distant black holes - extremely compact objects with gravity so powerful that not even light can escape. Gravitational waves can be caused by the motion of black holes and other enormous objects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Siemens told Reuters, "So if you imagine, you know, the collection of supermassive black holes that were that, you know, we were seeing correlations for as kind of like a choir or an orchestra... Imagine one of these orchestra members is a little bit close or is playing a little bit louder for some reason. That only happens with supermassive black holes."&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How did scientists carry out the research?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Scientists issued radio telescopes around the world, which were aimed at a total of 115 pulsars throughout the Milky Way, to carry out the new research.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists then measured the incredibly small differences in the timing of the pulses, searching for the signs of gravitational waves. French astrophysicist Antoine Petiteau said they were able to "detect changes of less than one-millionth of a second across more than 20 years".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maura McLaughlin of the US Pulsar Search Collaboratory programme said they were "awestruck" after first seeing evidence of the waves in 2020. During the press conference, she said that it was "really a magical moment".&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Siemens, the data would be able to help scientists map out how galaxies form over time. He said, "I am surprised that we were able to (do this) in some ways because it's a little bit of a long shot. And I think another part of the surprise is the amplitude of the signal is actually a little bit larger than we expected."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Astronomers used a galaxy-sized antenna of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way to spot low-frequency gravitational waves for the first time in history. The "background hum" is rumbling throughout the universe and it is the first evidence of a long-theorised form of gravitational waves.

Astronomers used a galaxy-sized antenna of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way to spot low-frequency gravitational waves for the first time in history. The "background hum" is rumbling throughout the universe and it is the first evidence of a long-theorised form of gravitational waves. This becomes a notable event in the history of astrophysics - all thanks to the breakthrough made by hundreds of scientists using radio telescopes in North America, Europe, China, India and Australia after years of work. The day has been hailed as a major milestone that opens a new window into the universe as it comes around eight years after scientists spotted the elusive ripples in space-time. What are gravitational waves? Astrophysicists have previously stated that gravitational waves are 'ripples' in space-time created by some of the universe's most destructive and intense activities. It is also an attestation of what Albert Einstein had predicted in 1916, in his general theory of relativity. Also read: Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 13, lunar landing by August-end Theory of relativity Einstein's theories are said to be one of the most important papers ever published in the field of physics. In layman's terms, the theory of relativity consists of two interrelated physics theories; special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity applies to all physical phenomena in the absence of gravity. Meanwhile, general relativity describes the law of gravitation and its relationship to natural forces. It applies to cosmology and astrophysics, especially astronomy. The general theory of relativity is a major building block of modern physics and is related to gravity, which is one of the fundamental forces in the universe. It basically talks about the force of gravity and how it arises from the curvature of space and time. Well, an elaborated mathematical formula is followed, which is for the experts, not us. We need to understand the latest announcement. Also read: Europe's space telescope to target universe's dark mysteries What do we know about the latest finding? As mentioned earlier, gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of the universe that travel through everything at the speed of light almost entirely unimpeded. However, their existence was not confirmed until 2015, when the US and Italian observatories detected the first gravitational waves created by two black holes colliding. These "high-frequency" waves were caused by a single explosive event that sent a powerful, brief burst rippling towards Earth. However, scientists have been looking for low-frequency gravitational waves, which are considered to be constantly rolling across space like background noise, for decades. To know more about the phenomenon, scientists joined forces under the banner of the International Pulsar Timing Array consortium and worked at gravitational wave detectors on several continents. They finally revealed on Thursday that they have found strong evidence of these background waves. Watch this report: × As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens said, "As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then these times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later." Siemens is a co-director of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), a collaboration of more than 190 scientists from the United States and Canada who worked to monitor the gravitational wave signals. Gravitational waves, as well as ghostly subatomic particles known as neutrinos, allow for a more thorough exploration of the universe. Seven years ago, physicists revealed that the gravitational waves were generated by two distant black holes - extremely compact objects with gravity so powerful that not even light can escape. Gravitational waves can be caused by the motion of black holes and other enormous objects. Siemens told Reuters, "So if you imagine, you know, the collection of supermassive black holes that were that, you know, we were seeing correlations for as kind of like a choir or an orchestra... Imagine one of these orchestra members is a little bit close or is playing a little bit louder for some reason. That only happens with supermassive black holes." How did scientists carry out the research? Scientists issued radio telescopes around the world, which were aimed at a total of 115 pulsars throughout the Milky Way, to carry out the new research. Scientists then measured the incredibly small differences in the timing of the pulses, searching for the signs of gravitational waves. French astrophysicist Antoine Petiteau said they were able to "detect changes of less than one-millionth of a second across more than 20 years". Maura McLaughlin of the US Pulsar Search Collaboratory programme said they were "awestruck" after first seeing evidence of the waves in 2020. During the press conference, she said that it was "really a magical moment". According to Siemens, the data would be able to help scientists map out how galaxies form over time. He said, "I am surprised that we were able to (do this) in some ways because it's a little bit of a long shot. And I think another part of the surprise is the amplitude of the signal is actually a little bit larger than we expected." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Gravitational waves and the cosmic 'background hum'

<p>In what has been described as a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have for the first time “heard” the sound of gravitational waves produced by the slow-motion mergers of supermassive black holes.</p>

<p>The international research consortium, including astrophysicists from India, on Wednesday, recorded the gravitational waves rippling through the fabric of space-time. It is said that they are by far the most powerful ever measured.</p>

<p>The discovery was made by scientists from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), who have been closely observing stars called pulsars that act as celestial metronomes.</p>

<h2><strong>Einsetin's theory proven</strong></h2>

<p>Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves a century ago, but it was proved only in 2016 when the US-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (Ligo) detected the merger of blackholes, effectively proving that space itself can be stretched and squeezed.</p>

<p>Until their detection in 2016, scientists had found only indirect evidence of their existence, beginning in the 1970s.</p>

<p>Also, the one discovered in 2023 is markedly different from the 2016 gravitational waves as the scientists at that time were able to capture only short “chirps” of gravitational waves linked to mergers of black holes or neutron stars only slightly larger than the sun.</p>

<p>"We’ve opened a new window of observation on the universe,” said Chiara Mingarelli, an astrophysicist and assistant professor at Yale University in the US, and a member of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) team.</p>

<h2><strong>Sound of 'choir'</strong></h2>

<p>Mingarelli likened the new class of gravitational waves to a “choir, with the pairs of supermassive black holes chiming in at different frequencies”. She also said the gravitational wave background was “about twice as loud as I’d expected”.</p>

<p>Objects called pulsars — extremely dense cores of exploded stars that spin at the speed of kitchen blenders — were crucial in the new research. Nearly 70 pulsars were used in gathering the evidence.</p>

<p>“As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then the times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later,” said Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens, a co-director of the NANOGrav.</p>

<p>The results released this week in ‘The Astrophysical Journal Letters’ included 15 years of data from NANOGrav, which has been using telescopes across North America to search for the waves.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p id="6"><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


In what has been described as a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have for the first time “heard” the sound of gravitational waves produced by the slow-motion mergers of supermassive black holes.

In what has been described as a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have for the first time “heard” the sound of gravitational waves produced by the slow-motion mergers of supermassive black holes. The international research consortium, including astrophysicists from India, on Wednesday, recorded the gravitational waves rippling through the fabric of space-time. It is said that they are by far the most powerful ever measured. The discovery was made by scientists from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), who have been closely observing stars called pulsars that act as celestial metronomes. Einsetin's theory proven Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves a century ago, but it was proved only in 2016 when the US-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (Ligo) detected the merger of blackholes, effectively proving that space itself can be stretched and squeezed. Until their detection in 2016, scientists had found only indirect evidence of their existence, beginning in the 1970s. Also, the one discovered in 2023 is markedly different from the 2016 gravitational waves as the scientists at that time were able to capture only short “chirps” of gravitational waves linked to mergers of black holes or neutron stars only slightly larger than the sun. "We’ve opened a new window of observation on the universe,” said Chiara Mingarelli, an astrophysicist and assistant professor at Yale University in the US, and a member of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) team. Sound of 'choir' Mingarelli likened the new class of gravitational waves to a “choir, with the pairs of supermassive black holes chiming in at different frequencies”. She also said the gravitational wave background was “about twice as loud as I’d expected”. Objects called pulsars — extremely dense cores of exploded stars that spin at the speed of kitchen blenders — were crucial in the new research. Nearly 70 pulsars were used in gathering the evidence. “As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then the times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later,” said Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens, a co-director of the NANOGrav. The results released this week in ‘The Astrophysical Journal Letters’ included 15 years of data from NANOGrav, which has been using telescopes across North America to search for the waves. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

For first time, scientists ‘hear’ and ‘record’ celestial hum of gravitational waves

In a landmark move, Narendra Modi government approved a project to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore. In the US, there are already two such Ligo observatories. The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be Ligo-India. The facility is expected to be completed by 2030.

India to study secret gravitational waves

<p>The Indian government gave a go-ahead to Rs 2,600-crore project on Thursday for setting up a Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory-India (LIGO-India) in the Aundha area of Hingol district in Maharashtra.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The observatory is being designed to detect gravitational waves, which are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as plants and stars.</p>

<p>The first detection of gravitational waves was made by US-based LIGO on September 14, 2015. LIGO has detected numerous other gravitational waves. These detections have confirmed some of the predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity and provided a new way to study the universe.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-korea-natural-partners-held-substantive-talks-with-eam-south-korean-foreign-minister-park-jin-to-wion-580323">India, Korea natural partners, held substantive talks with Jaishankar: South Korean FM Park Jin to WION</a></p>

<p>LIGO-India will be located about 450km east of Mumbai. The set-up is expected to be completed by 2030.</p>

<p>Union Space and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said LIGO-India&nbsp;will&nbsp;aid in a more thorough knowledge of gravitational waves as well as other celestial phenomena like neutron stars and black holes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>174 acres of land have been been acquired&nbsp;for LIGO-India. The&nbsp;project has also&nbsp;received environmental approval, and a geotechnical survey has been completed. An empowered board will be established to oversee the project.</p>

<h2><strong>A landmark moment for India&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>This is the first-ever cutting-edge facility of this size being&nbsp;constructed in India.&nbsp;One such facility that has been planned in India, the Neutrino Observatory, has had difficulties. So, LIGO-India&nbsp;is essential for proving India's might&nbsp;to take&nbsp;difficult scientific initiatives independently.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-aides-to-hire-laura-loomer-an-anti-muslims-for-campaign-role-580360">Trump asks aides to hire Laura Loomer, an anti-Muslim, for campaign role</a></p>

<h2><strong>Collaboration with US LIGO observatories&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In the US, there are already two such LIGO observatories. The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be LIGO-India. A group of Indian research institutes and the LIGO Laboratory in the United States, together with its worldwide collaborators, are planning to work together on the project. Key lab components worth $80 million, or Rs 560 crore, would be supplied by the US.</p>

<p>In February 2016, the government granted in-principle clearance to LIGO-India. Since then, the project has accomplished a number of significant milestones on the way to choosing and&nbsp;acquiring the land for the&nbsp;observatory.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Pakistan: National Security Committee to launch new military operation against militants</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-national-security-committee-to-launch-new-military-operation-against-militants-580326/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology will construct the LIGO-India project with the help of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Science Foundation, US, as well as other national and international research and academic institutes. A UGC independent body will assist with the project as well. Components for the project will be provided by Indian businesses. In order to maximise the scientific yield, LIGO-India will be controlled and maintained scientifically in conjunction with the US LIGO detectors once it is operational.</p>


The Indian government gave a go-ahead to Rs 2,600-crore project on Thursday for setting up a Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory-India (LIGO-India) in the Aundha area of Hingol district in Maharashtra.

The Indian government gave a go-ahead to Rs 2,600-crore project on Thursday for setting up a Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory-India (LIGO-India) in the Aundha area of Hingol district in Maharashtra. The observatory is being designed to detect gravitational waves, which are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as plants and stars. The first detection of gravitational waves was made by US-based LIGO on September 14, 2015. LIGO has detected numerous other gravitational waves. These detections have confirmed some of the predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity and provided a new way to study the universe. Also Read | India, Korea natural partners, held substantive talks with Jaishankar: South Korean FM Park Jin to WION LIGO-India will be located about 450km east of Mumbai. The set-up is expected to be completed by 2030. Union Space and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said LIGO-India will aid in a more thorough knowledge of gravitational waves as well as other celestial phenomena like neutron stars and black holes. 174 acres of land have been been acquired for LIGO-India. The project has also received environmental approval, and a geotechnical survey has been completed. An empowered board will be established to oversee the project. A landmark moment for India This is the first-ever cutting-edge facility of this size being constructed in India. One such facility that has been planned in India, the Neutrino Observatory, has had difficulties. So, LIGO-India is essential for proving India's might to take difficult scientific initiatives independently. Also Read | Trump asks aides to hire Laura Loomer, an anti-Muslim, for campaign role Collaboration with US LIGO observatories In the US, there are already two such LIGO observatories. The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be LIGO-India. A group of Indian research institutes and the LIGO Laboratory in the United States, together with its worldwide collaborators, are planning to work together on the project. Key lab components worth $80 million, or Rs 560 crore, would be supplied by the US. In February 2016, the government granted in-principle clearance to LIGO-India. Since then, the project has accomplished a number of significant milestones on the way to choosing and acquiring the land for the observatory. Watch | Pakistan: National Security Committee to launch new military operation against militants × The Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology will construct the LIGO-India project with the help of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Science Foundation, US, as well as other national and international research and academic institutes. A UGC independent body will assist with the project as well. Components for the project will be provided by Indian businesses. In order to maximise the scientific yield, LIGO-India will be controlled and maintained scientifically in conjunction with the US LIGO detectors once it is operational.

In landmark move, India gives nod to LIGO observatory in Maharashtra to study gravitational waves

<p>The most recent round of gravitational wave observations yielded the most data yet.</p>

<p>The LIGO-Virgo interferometers detected 35 gravitational wave incidents in fewer than five months, from November 2019 to March 2020.</p>

<p>For the course of the run, that amounts to about 1.7 gravitational wave occurrences every week on average.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Nobel Prize-winning observation of two merging black holes by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory in 2015 was the first detection of gravitational waves (LIGO).</p>

<p>Since then, scientists have discovered gravitational waves produced by the collision of two neutron stars — dense relics of huge stars that have died – resulting in a kilonova.</p>

<p>Waves caused by black holes consuming neutron stars have also been seen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Astronomers may be able to detect gravitational waves from stars when they explode into supernovae in the future.</p>

<p>Scientists were able to establish how the mergers were produced by analysing specific aspects of the mergers.</p>

<p>"Information from the black hole masses and spins … give us a lot of information about how the structure of the universe formed," said astrophysicist Susan Scott of the Australian National University and a member of the international Advanced LIGO team.</p>

<p>Some of the latest discoveries are still a mystery.</p>

<p>The 35th event, according to the researchers, might be a merger of two black holes or a merger of a black hole and a neutron star.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The most recent round of gravitational wave observations yielded the most data yet. The LIGO-Virgo interferometers detected 35 gravitational wave incidents in fewer than five months, from November 2019 to March 2020.

The most recent round of gravitational wave observations yielded the most data yet. The LIGO-Virgo interferometers detected 35 gravitational wave incidents in fewer than five months, from November 2019 to March 2020. For the course of the run, that amounts to about 1.7 gravitational wave occurrences every week on average. The Nobel Prize-winning observation of two merging black holes by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory in 2015 was the first detection of gravitational waves (LIGO). Since then, scientists have discovered gravitational waves produced by the collision of two neutron stars — dense relics of huge stars that have died – resulting in a kilonova. Waves caused by black holes consuming neutron stars have also been seen. Astronomers may be able to detect gravitational waves from stars when they explode into supernovae in the future. Scientists were able to establish how the mergers were produced by analysing specific aspects of the mergers. "Information from the black hole masses and spins … give us a lot of information about how the structure of the universe formed," said astrophysicist Susan Scott of the Australian National University and a member of the international Advanced LIGO team. Some of the latest discoveries are still a mystery. The 35th event, according to the researchers, might be a merger of two black holes or a merger of a black hole and a neutron star. (With inputs from agencies)

'Tsunami' of gravitational Waves: 35 wave events provide insight into how universe formed

<p>Astronomers have identified&nbsp;eerie stars of 'dark matter' that were behind the&nbsp;largest gravitational wave, in a recent study.</p>

<p>The study published in Physics Review Letters&nbsp;led by the Galician Institute of High Energy Physics (IGFAE) and the University of Aveiro shows that the heaviest black hole collision ever observed, produced by the gravitational-wave GW190521, might actually be something even more mysterious: the merger of two boson stars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This would be the first evidence of the existence of these hypothetical objects that constitute one of the main candidates to form dark matter, which makes up 27 per cent&nbsp;of the Universe.</p>

<p><strong>Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-identify-slime-mold-that-saves-memories-without-nervous-system-366847" hreflang="en">Scientists identify slime mold that saves memories without nervous system</a></strong></p>

<p>Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that travel at the speed of light. These originate in the most violent events of our Universe, carrying information about their sources.</p>

<p>Since 2015, mankind&nbsp;can detect and interpret gravitational waves thanks to the two LIGO detectors (Livingston and Hanford, USA) and Virgo (Cascina, Italy) detectors. To date, these detectors have already observed around 50 gravitational-wave signals.</p>

<p>All of these were originated in the collision and merger of two of the most mysterious entities in the Universe, black holes and neutron stars, allowing us to deepen in our knowledge about these objects.</p>

<p><strong>Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/tremendous-implications-moons-biggest-crater-reveals-lunar-formation-secrets-364295" hreflang="en">'Tremendous implications': Moon's biggest crater reveals lunar formation secrets</a></strong></p>

<p>The team compared the GW190521 signal to computer simulations of boson-star mergers and found that these actually explain the data slightly better than the analysis conducted by LIGO and Virgo. The result implies that the source would have different properties than stated earlier.</p>

<p>According to Dr Calderón Bustillo: “First, we would not be talking about colliding black holes anymore, which eliminates the issue of dealing with a forbidden black hole. Second, because boson star mergers are much weaker, we infer a much closer distance than the one estimated by LIGO and Virgo. This leads to a much larger mass for the final black hole, of about 250 solar masses, so the fact that we have witnessed the formation of an intermediate-mass black hole remains true”.</p>

<p>Dr. Nicolás Sanchis-Gual, explains: “Boson stars are objects almost as compact as black holes but, unlike them, do not have a “no-return” surface. When they collide, they form a boson star that can become unstable, eventually collapsing to a black hole, and producing a signal consistent with what LIGO and Virgo observed. Unlike regular stars, which are made of what we commonly know as matter, boson stars are made up of what we know as ultralight bosons. These bosons are one of the most appealing candidates for constituting what we know as dark matter”.</p>

<p>The team found that even though the analysis tends to favour “by design” the merging black-holes hypothesis, a boson star merger is actually preferred by the data, although in a non-conclusive way.&nbsp;Prof. Jose A. Font&nbsp;from the University of Valencia says “Our results show that the two scenarios are almost indistinguishable given the data, although the exotic boson-star one is slightly preferred. This is very exciting since our boson-star model is as of now very limited and subject to major improvements. A more evolved model may lead to even larger evidence for this scenario and would also allow us to study previous gravitational-wave observations under the boson-star merger assumption”.</p>

<p>Professor&nbsp;Carlos Herdeiro, from the University of Aveiro, says that “one of the most fascinating results is that we can actually measure the mass of this putative new dark-matter particle and that a value of zero is discarded with high confidence. If confirmed by subsequent analysis of this and other gravitational-wave observations, our result would provide the first observational evidence for a long-sought dark matter candidate”.</p>


Astronomers have identified eerie stars of 'dark matter' that were behind the largest gravitational wave, in a recent study. The study published in Physics Review Letters led by the Galician Institute of High Energy Physics (IGFAE) and the University of Aveiro shows that the heaviest black hole collision ever observed, produced by the gravitational-wave GW190521, might actually be something even more mysterious: the merger of two boson stars.

Astronomers have identified eerie stars of 'dark matter' that were behind the largest gravitational wave, in a recent study. The study published in Physics Review Letters led by the Galician Institute of High Energy Physics (IGFAE) and the University of Aveiro shows that the heaviest black hole collision ever observed, produced by the gravitational-wave GW190521, might actually be something even more mysterious: the merger of two boson stars. This would be the first evidence of the existence of these hypothetical objects that constitute one of the main candidates to form dark matter, which makes up 27 per cent of the Universe. Also read| Scientists identify slime mold that saves memories without nervous system Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that travel at the speed of light. These originate in the most violent events of our Universe, carrying information about their sources. Since 2015, mankind can detect and interpret gravitational waves thanks to the two LIGO detectors (Livingston and Hanford, USA) and Virgo (Cascina, Italy) detectors. To date, these detectors have already observed around 50 gravitational-wave signals. All of these were originated in the collision and merger of two of the most mysterious entities in the Universe, black holes and neutron stars, allowing us to deepen in our knowledge about these objects. Also read| 'Tremendous implications': Moon's biggest crater reveals lunar formation secrets The team compared the GW190521 signal to computer simulations of boson-star mergers and found that these actually explain the data slightly better than the analysis conducted by LIGO and Virgo. The result implies that the source would have different properties than stated earlier. According to Dr Calderón Bustillo: “First, we would not be talking about colliding black holes anymore, which eliminates the issue of dealing with a forbidden black hole. Second, because boson star mergers are much weaker, we infer a much closer distance than the one estimated by LIGO and Virgo. This leads to a much larger mass for the final black hole, of about 250 solar masses, so the fact that we have witnessed the formation of an intermediate-mass black hole remains true”. Dr. Nicolás Sanchis-Gual, explains: “Boson stars are objects almost as compact as black holes but, unlike them, do not have a “no-return” surface. When they collide, they form a boson star that can become unstable, eventually collapsing to a black hole, and producing a signal consistent with what LIGO and Virgo observed. Unlike regular stars, which are made of what we commonly know as matter, boson stars are made up of what we know as ultralight bosons. These bosons are one of the most appealing candidates for constituting what we know as dark matter”. The team found that even though the analysis tends to favour “by design” the merging black-holes hypothesis, a boson star merger is actually preferred by the data, although in a non-conclusive way. Prof. Jose A. Font from the University of Valencia says “Our results show that the two scenarios are almost indistinguishable given the data, although the exotic boson-star one is slightly preferred. This is very exciting since our boson-star model is as of now very limited and subject to major improvements. A more evolved model may lead to even larger evidence for this scenario and would also allow us to study previous gravitational-wave observations under the boson-star merger assumption”. Professor Carlos Herdeiro, from the University of Aveiro, says that “one of the most fascinating results is that we can actually measure the mass of this putative new dark-matter particle and that a value of zero is discarded with high confidence. If confirmed by subsequent analysis of this and other gravitational-wave observations, our result would provide the first observational evidence for a long-sought dark matter candidate”.

Astronomers detect eerie stars of 'dark matter' behind largest gravitational wave

<p>Rumours have been swirling for weeks that scientists have detected gravitational waves &ndash; tiny ripples in space and time &ndash; from a source other than colliding black holes. Now we can finally confirm that we&rsquo;ve observed such waves produced by the violent collision of two massive, ultra-dense stars more than 100m light years from the Earth.</p>

<p>The discovery was made on August 17 by the global network of advanced gravitational-wave interferometers &ndash; comprising the twin LIGO detectors in the US and their European cousin, Virgo, in Italy. It is hugely important, not least because it helps solve some big mysteries in astrophysics &ndash; including the cause of bright flashes of light known as &ldquo;gamma-ray bursts&rdquo; and perhaps even the origins of heavy elements such as gold.</p>

<p>As a member of the LIGO scientific collaboration, I was immediately in raptures as soon as I saw the initial data. And the period that followed was definitely the most intense and sleep deprived, but also incredibly exciting, two months of my career.</p>

<p>The announcement comes just weeks after three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their foundational work leading to the discovery of gravitational waves, first announced in February 2016. Since then, detecting gravitational waves from colliding black holes have started to feel like familiar territory &ndash; with four further such events detected. But as far as we know, colliding black holes offer purely a window on the dark side of the universe. We haven&rsquo;t been able to register light from these events with any other instruments.</p>

<p>But GW170817 &ndash; the catchy title for the event of August 17 &mdash; changes all that. That&rsquo;s because the source of the waves this time was two &ldquo;neutron stars&rdquo; &ndash; incredibly dense stellar remnants the size of a city, each weighing more than the sun. These stars whizzed around each other at a sizeable fraction of the speed of light before merging in a cataclysmic collision that we&rsquo;ve now seen shake the very fabric of space and time.</p>

<p><strong>Mysteries solved</strong></p>

<p>The cosmic concerto was just beginning, however, astronomers have long suspected that the merger of two neutron stars could be the overture to a short gamma-ray burst &ndash; an intense flash of gamma-ray light that releases more energy in a fraction of a second than the sun will pump out in ten billion years. For several decades we have observed these gamma-ray bursts, but without knowing for sure what causes them.</p>

<p>However, just 1.7 seconds after the gravitational waves from GW170817 arrived at the Earth, NASA&rsquo;s Fermi satellite observed a short burst of gamma rays in the same general region of the sky. LIGO and Virgo had found the smoking gun, and the link between neutron star collisions and short gamma-ray bursts was finally and clearly established.</p>

<p>The combination of gravitational-wave and gamma-ray observations allowed the position of the cosmic explosion to be pinpointed to less than 30 square degrees on the sky &ndash; or about 100 times the size of the full moon. This, in turn, allowed a whole barrage of astronomical telescopes sensitive to light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum to search this small patch of sky for the aftermath of the explosion. And sure enough, this was found &ndash; in an unfashionable backwater towards the edge of a fairly unassuming galaxy called NGC4993, in the constellation of Hydra.</p>

<p>Over the next few days and weeks, astronomers watched agog as the embers from the explosion glowed brightly and faded, beautifully matching the pattern expected for a so-called &ldquo;kilonova&rdquo;. This is produced when material rich in subatomic particles known as neutrons from the initial merger is ejected at great speed by the gamma-ray burst. This ploughs into the surrounding region of space, triggering the production of heavy radioactive elements.</p>

<p>These unstable elements typically split up (decay) to a stable state by emitting radiation. This is what causes the glow of the kilonova, which we have now confirmed by mapping it out in exquisite detail. Our observations also strongly support the theory that the stable end-products of these chains of reactions include copious amounts of precious metals like gold and platinum. While we&rsquo;ve suspected neutron stars to be key to producing these elements in space, that hypothesis now looks a whole lot more convincing. Indeed, the kilonova that formed from the embers of GW170817 could have produced as much gold as the entire mass of the Earth &ndash; that is 1,000 trillion tonnes.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What is a binary neutron star? <a href="https://twitter.com/martin_astro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Martin_astro</a> tells us about one of the most bizarre objects in the universe. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenBinary?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenBinary</a> <a href="https://t.co/AzHTReV8Z7">pic.twitter.com/AzHTReV8Z7</a></p>
&mdash; Uni of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofGlasgow/status/919936738893602816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>By observing a kilonova &ldquo;up close and personal&rdquo; for the very first time, and seeing how well it fits into the unfolding astronomical storyboard that began with the neutron star merger, astronomers have taken a huge leap forward in our understanding of these violent cosmic events.</p>

<p>The idea that we are all made of stardust is increasingly appreciated in popular culture &ndash; in everything from documentaries to song lyrics. But the mind-blowing concept that the gold in our wedding rings and Rolex watches is made of neutron stardust is about to catch on. Perhaps even more exciting, however, is the enormous potential now unlocked by this radical, new approach to studying the cosmos.</p>

<p>By working together collaboratively &ndash; using instruments that operate not just across the entire spectrum of light but are sensitive to gravitational waves and even neutrinos too &ndash; astronomers are poised to fully open a completely new &ldquo;multi-messenger&rdquo; window on the universe, with many further discoveries to be made and cosmic mysteries to be solved. For example, we have already used our observations to make the first ever joint measurement of the expansion rate of the universe, using both gravitational waves and light. Our paper will appear in Nature on October 16.</p>

<p>More results will also surely follow soon. The exciting new era of multi-messenger astronomy just started with a bang.</p>

<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-we-discovered-gravitational-waves-from-neutron-stars-and-why-its-such-a-huge-deal-85647" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.</p>


The discovery of gravitational waves is a new approach to study the cosmos

Rumours have been swirling for weeks that scientists have detected gravitational waves – tiny ripples in space and time – from a source other than colliding black holes. Now we can finally confirm that we’ve observed such waves produced by the violent collision of two massive, ultra-dense stars more than 100m light years from the Earth. The discovery was made on August 17 by the global network of advanced gravitational-wave interferometers – comprising the twin LIGO detectors in the US and their European cousin, Virgo, in Italy. It is hugely important, not least because it helps solve some big mysteries in astrophysics – including the cause of bright flashes of light known as “gamma-ray bursts” and perhaps even the origins of heavy elements such as gold. As a member of the LIGO scientific collaboration, I was immediately in raptures as soon as I saw the initial data. And the period that followed was definitely the most intense and sleep deprived, but also incredibly exciting, two months of my career. The announcement comes just weeks after three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their foundational work leading to the discovery of gravitational waves, first announced in February 2016. Since then, detecting gravitational waves from colliding black holes have started to feel like familiar territory – with four further such events detected. But as far as we know, colliding black holes offer purely a window on the dark side of the universe. We haven’t been able to register light from these events with any other instruments. But GW170817 – the catchy title for the event of August 17 — changes all that. That’s because the source of the waves this time was two “neutron stars” – incredibly dense stellar remnants the size of a city, each weighing more than the sun. These stars whizzed around each other at a sizeable fraction of the speed of light before merging in a cataclysmic collision that we’ve now seen shake the very fabric of space and time. Mysteries solved The cosmic concerto was just beginning, however, astronomers have long suspected that the merger of two neutron stars could be the overture to a short gamma-ray burst – an intense flash of gamma-ray light that releases more energy in a fraction of a second than the sun will pump out in ten billion years. For several decades we have observed these gamma-ray bursts, but without knowing for sure what causes them. However, just 1.7 seconds after the gravitational waves from GW170817 arrived at the Earth, NASA’s Fermi satellite observed a short burst of gamma rays in the same general region of the sky. LIGO and Virgo had found the smoking gun, and the link between neutron star collisions and short gamma-ray bursts was finally and clearly established. The combination of gravitational-wave and gamma-ray observations allowed the position of the cosmic explosion to be pinpointed to less than 30 square degrees on the sky – or about 100 times the size of the full moon. This, in turn, allowed a whole barrage of astronomical telescopes sensitive to light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum to search this small patch of sky for the aftermath of the explosion. And sure enough, this was found – in an unfashionable backwater towards the edge of a fairly unassuming galaxy called NGC4993, in the constellation of Hydra. Over the next few days and weeks, astronomers watched agog as the embers from the explosion glowed brightly and faded, beautifully matching the pattern expected for a so-called “kilonova”. This is produced when material rich in subatomic particles known as neutrons from the initial merger is ejected at great speed by the gamma-ray burst. This ploughs into the surrounding region of space, triggering the production of heavy radioactive elements. These unstable elements typically split up (decay) to a stable state by emitting radiation. This is what causes the glow of the kilonova, which we have now confirmed by mapping it out in exquisite detail. Our observations also strongly support the theory that the stable end-products of these chains of reactions include copious amounts of precious metals like gold and platinum. While we’ve suspected neutron stars to be key to producing these elements in space, that hypothesis now looks a whole lot more convincing. Indeed, the kilonova that formed from the embers of GW170817 could have produced as much gold as the entire mass of the Earth – that is 1,000 trillion tonnes. What is a binary neutron star? @Martin_astro tells us about one of the most bizarre objects in the universe. #GoldenBinary pic.twitter.com/AzHTReV8Z7 — Uni of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) October 16, 2017 × By observing a kilonova “up close and personal” for the very first time, and seeing how well it fits into the unfolding astronomical storyboard that began with the neutron star merger, astronomers have taken a huge leap forward in our understanding of these violent cosmic events. The idea that we are all made of stardust is increasingly appreciated in popular culture – in everything from documentaries to song lyrics. But the mind-blowing concept that the gold in our wedding rings and Rolex watches is made of neutron stardust is about to catch on. Perhaps even more exciting, however, is the enormous potential now unlocked by this radical, new approach to studying the cosmos. By working together collaboratively – using instruments that operate not just across the entire spectrum of light but are sensitive to gravitational waves and even neutrinos too – astronomers are poised to fully open a completely new “multi-messenger” window on the universe, with many further discoveries to be made and cosmic mysteries to be solved. For example, we have already used our observations to make the first ever joint measurement of the expansion rate of the universe, using both gravitational waves and light. Our paper will appear in Nature on October 16. More results will also surely follow soon. The exciting new era of multi-messenger astronomy just started with a bang. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

How we discovered gravitational waves from 'neutron stars' ? and why it's such a huge deal

gravitational-waves

Gravitational Waves, News on Gravitational Waves, stories on Gravitational Waves, articles on Gravitational Waves, Gravitational Waves stories at Wion, Gravitational Waves news, Gravitational Waves latest news