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Gravitational Waves

Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time created by the interaction of massive objects in space, such as black holes and neutron stars. Their existence was first predicted by Albert Einstein in his 1916 paper describing his theory of general relativity. In 2015, scientists made the first detection of gravitational waves, observing ripples from the collision of two black holes. The discovery won astrophysicists Kip Thorne, Barry Baris and Rainer Weiss the 2017 Nobel Prize for Physics. Subsequent observations have also detected gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars. Learn more about gravitational waves here.

Related Topics: Black Holes, Dark Matter, The Theory of Relativity in Space

Latest Updates

Best Space Photos of the Week – March 5, 2016

By Space.com Staff published 5 March 16

From NASA astronaut Scott Kelly's images from the ISS to clouds over Neptune, don't miss these great space images.

India to Join Hunt for Gravitational Waves

By Calla Cofield published 2 March 16

LIGO Team Members at the Congressional Hearing

Experts to Congress: Gravitational Waves Discovery Will Help Science, Humanity

By Shannon Hall published 1 March 16

Members of the LIGO collaboration testified before Congress today, discussing the discovery's wide-reaching benefits.

Black holes merging simulation, gravitational waves

Gravitational Waves: Spying the Universe's 'Dark Side'

By Irene Klotz published 29 February 16

Now the elusive ripples in spacetime have been found, scientists are planning for a rich future for using gravitational wave observatories to unmask the warped side of cosmos.

Best Space Photos of the Week – Feb. 27, 2016

By Space.com Staff published 27 February 16

From found meteorites to the new SpaceShipTwo Plane, don't miss these great space images.

Gravitational Waves: Did Merging Black Holes Form from Single Star?

By Calla Cofield published 25 February 16

Can two black holes be born from a single star? A new idea could explain the merger of two black holes that led to the historic first direct detection of gravitational waves.

NASA Space Poster - Jupiter's Moon Europa

Best Space Photos of the Week – Feb. 21, 2016

By Space.com Staff published 21 February 16

From amazing prints of retro NASA travel posters to a composite of 12 months of solar activity, don't miss these great space images.

Here's How It Felt to Discover Gravitational Waves (Kavli Hangout)

By Adam Hadhazy published 20 February 16

The hunt for gravitational waves took decades — what's it like to see the target of your life's work finally revealed?

Artist's Conception of a Black Hole Merger

Historic Gravitational Waves Rippled, But Left No Fireworks

By Nola Taylor Tillman published 18 February 16

The direct detection of gravitational waves, created by colliding black holes, sent ripples through the world. Scientists also studied the area to look for light emitted by the cosmic crash.

Hawking: Gravitational Waves Could Revolutionize Astronomy

By Ian O'Neill published 17 February 16

Black hole theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has some thoughts on the discovery of gravitational waves.

Black Holes, Too! Gravitational Wave Find Had Other Surprises

By Calla Cofield published 17 February 16

Rochester Institute of Technology Simulation of Gravitational Waves

Best Space Stories of the Week – Feb. 14, 2016

By Mike Wall published 14 February 16

LIGO's Gravitational Waves Detection Converted to Sound Waves

Best Space Photos of the Week – Feb. 13, 2016

By Space.com Staff published 14 February 16

From amazing photos of the first-ever direct detection of gravitational waves to scenes from a music video shot in microgravity, don't miss these great space images.

Where Did Those Gravitational Waves Come From? There's a Map

By Ian O'Neill published 12 February 16

The merging black holes generated a gravitational wave signal from 1.3 billion light-years away -- but which direction did they come from?

Gravitational Waves: What Their Discovery Means for Science and Humanity

By Calla Cofield published 12 February 16

The first-ever direct detection of gravitational waves will open up an entirely new window on the universe, researchers say.

This Is What Gravitational Waves Sound Like (Video)

By Mike Wall published 12 February 16

Tyson Columbia Address on Gravitational Waves Discovery

'Delighted' Neil deGrasse Tyson Hails Gravitational Waves Find (Video)

By Sarah Lewin published 12 February 16

Neil deGrasse Tyson took the stage at Columbia University to speak after a historic result was revealed: the first direct detection of gravitational waves.

Gravitational Waves Detected by LIGO: Complete Coverage

By Space.com Staff published 11 February 16

Read all about the mysterious spacetime ripples known as gravitational waves, and what their detection means for astronomy.

Epic Gravitational Wave Detection: How Scientists Did It

By Mike Wall published 11 February 16

To spot gravitational waves directly for the first time ever, scientists had to measure a distance change 1,000 times smaller than the width of a proton. Here's how they did it.

(Feb. 11, 2016) In Historic First, Einstein's Gravitational Waves Detected Directly

By Calla Cofield published 11 February 16

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