Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime, predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. According to this theory, massive objects like stars and black holes distort spacetime around them, much like a heavy ball placed on a stretched rubber sheet. When these objects accelerate or move asymmetrically, they generate waves that propagate outward at the speed of light.

Gravitational waves are incredibly faint and difficult to detect directly because they interact very weakly with matter. However, their detection opens a new window into the universe, providing information about violent and energetic events that cannot be observed through traditional electromagnetic waves. These events include the collisions and mergers of massive objects such as black holes and neutron stars.

In 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) made history by detecting gravitational waves directly for the first time, produced by the merger of two black holes over a billion light-years away. Since then, other detectors like Virgo and the LIGO Livingston Observatory have also contributed to the detection and study of gravitational waves.

Studying gravitational waves promises to deepen our understanding of fundamental physics, the nature of gravity, and the evolution of the universe, providing insights into cosmic phenomena that were previously inaccessible.