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What is the biggest space discovery of our time?

Carlota Manklow

Well, as a huge space enthusiast, I think the biggest space discovery of our time has been the detection of gravitational waves by LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory). It was a major breakthrough in physics and astrophysics, which was finally confirmed by the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.

Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space-time, predicted by Einstein's Theory of General Relativity in 1916 but until recently, barely been detectable. LIGO detected and confirmed the existence of gravitational waves after two colliding black holes were spotted in September 2015, opening the door for future astronomical discoveries. This also proved that Einstein's theories were right and opened up new possibilities for exploring our universe.

The detection of gravitational waves was an extremely important discovery, not only for physics and astronomy, but also for technology. The LIGO team had to develop an unprecedented level of precision to detect a wave that is so infinitesimal that it distorts time and space by less than the width of a proton.

Since then, there have been many more gravitational wave detections, including neutron star mergers, which led to the discovery of an entirely new astronomical event and a plethora of scientific findings that have already transformed our understanding of the universe. For instance, we now know that heavy elements like gold and platinum are created by neutron star mergers and distributed out into the universe.

Thanks to the LIGO discovery, many new gravitational wave detectors have been built and are currently operating, such as the VIRGO observatory and the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, set to launch in 2034. This will allow for even more precise and frequent detections, giving us new insights into the cosmos.

Overall, the detection of gravitational waves by LIGO has been monumental for our understanding of the universe and has helped confirm one of the biggest theories in physics. It certainly stands as the biggest space discovery of our time and shows that there is so much more we have yet to learn and discover.