Latest news with #spacetime
Gizmodo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Trump's Cuts Threaten Nobel-Winning Observatory That Detected Colliding Black Holes
Nearly 10 years ago, scientists observed ripples in spacetime created by the collision of two black holes that took place 1.3 billion years ago. The first direct detection of gravitational waves opened up an entirely new way of seeing the universe, allowing us to observe a once invisible side of the cosmos. Today, the ability to track the frequencies produced by the most notable events that shape our surrounding cosmos is at risk due to drastic budget cuts targeting a breakthrough observatory. In late May, the U.S. administration released a so-called skinny budget that highlighted the proposed funds allocated to NASA and the National Science Foundation in 2026. As part of several monstrosities committed against ongoing science programs, the proposed budget would gut the funding for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) by 39.6%. The budget request allocates $29 million instead of $48 million for LIGO, and shuts down one of its two interferometers. The twin interferometers are situated 1,865 miles apart (3,002 kilometers), with one facility in Washington State and another in Louisiana. The enormous research facilities operate in unison as a single observatory designed to detect gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime that travel at the speed of light. Unlike other telescopes, LIGO is blind. It detects gravitational waves by measuring incredibly small distortions in spacetime. Using its laser interferometers, it splits a laser beam into two and sends each of them down two long vacuum-sealed arms. The beams travel back and forth through each arm, bouncing between precisely configured mirrors. Each beam monitors the distance between the mirrors and detects tiny changes caused by gravitational waves, which can stretch space in one direction and compress it in the other. The lasers can discern movements between their mirrors with an accuracy of 1/10,000th the width of a proton. Researchers from Caltech and MIT, with funding and oversight from the National Science Foundation, completed construction of LIGO—one of the world's most sophisticated scientific observatories—in 1999. Scientists spent years searching for gravitational waves and coming up empty. Finally, on September 14, 2015, the observatory began picking up the signal of its first gravitational waves. The groundbreaking detection provided scientists with a brand new way of observing the universe, allowing them to trace the waves back to events that had long remained hidden in the cosmos. Gravitational waves are caused by the merger of black holes, the collision of neutron stars, and asymmetric supernovae. Some may have also been produced in the early universe, moments after the Big Bang. Three researchers behind LIGO's discovery were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017 for their role in the detection of gravitational waves: physicists Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish, and Kip Thorne. These ripples in spacetime were first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916, and could only be confirmed decades later. The first discovery was confirmed because the signal was observed by both LIGO detectors. Since then, the twin LIGO interferometers—sometimes in coordination with the Virgo observatory in Italy—have detected hundreds of additional gravitational wave signals. Gravitational waves produce a high-pitched chirp when translated to audio, beginning at a low frequency. The two interferometers, and sometimes three, need to work in unison to confirm these faint signals. If one of LIGO's twin interferometers is shut down, as is suggested by the proposed budget, researchers would have trouble distinguishing between a black hole collision and a nearby seismic tremor, according to Science. The field of gravitational waves is only just getting started thanks to the twin LIGO detectors. Killing off one of the laser interferometers would hinder our newfound ability to listen in to the soft ripples of spacetime that echo through the cosmos.
Sustainability Times
11-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Einstein Would Lose His Mind': Scientists Uncover Ultimate Power Limit That Could Finally Fuse Relativity with Quantum Mechanics
IN A NUTSHELL 🔬 Researchers propose that dividing spacetime into tiny, discrete units could link general relativity and quantum mechanics . into tiny, discrete units could link and . 💡 New study suggests that gravity , a macroscopic force, might be explained using quantum theory in extreme conditions like black holes. , a macroscopic force, might be explained using in extreme conditions like black holes. 🔗 The concept of Planck power introduces an upper limit to energy release, challenging the notion of infinite energy levels. introduces an upper limit to energy release, challenging the notion of infinite energy levels. 🌌 This research could revolutionize our understanding of the universe, offering new insights and technological advancements. In recent years, the quest to unify the fundamental forces of the universe has taken a significant leap forward. Scientists are inching closer to bridging the gap between two of the most revolutionary theories in physics: general relativity and quantum mechanics. A new study suggests that by dividing spacetime into minuscule units, we might find a way to explain gravity—a macroscopic force—via the principles of quantum theory. This could potentially resolve the long-standing conundrum of how these two seemingly incompatible frameworks can coexist in extreme conditions like those found in black holes or the initial moments of the Big Bang. Energy Always Has an Upper Limit In the realm of physics, the idea that energy can be released at infinitely high levels has long posed challenges, particularly when dealing with quantum gravity. Picture a universe where space and time are not continuous but consist of minute, indivisible building blocks. This concept is akin to pixels on a digital screen or quanta in quantum mechanics, where energy and momentum are not smooth but come in discrete packets. In such a framework, objects would not move continuously but in fixed steps, and time would progress in tiny, discrete increments. These increments are so minute that they escape notice in our everyday lives. According to the principles of general relativity, gravity arises from the curvature of spacetime. If spacetime itself is fragmented, this curvature must also adhere to a quantized, step-like pattern. Moreover, if spacetime is quantized, then the energy release must have an upper limit, much like how no object can exceed the speed of light. This theoretical upper limit, known as Planck power, is unimaginably large—around 10⁵³ watts—but nonetheless finite. Wolfgang Wieland, the study's author, suggests that this concept could allow us to break down gravitational waves into their smallest quanta. 'Einstein Was Wrong': These Groundbreaking Black Hole Models Shatter Century-Old Theories with Unbelievable New Insights A Part of the Ongoing Quest Since the early 20th century, the relationship between general relativity and quantum mechanics has puzzled scientists. Initially thought to be mutually exclusive, recent research has indicated potential pathways to unite these theories, especially when examining phenomena like black holes. Previous studies have employed Einstein's field equations and entropy to explore how macroscopic phenomena such as gravity and spacetime can be described using quantum mechanics. While this current study isn't the first to attempt this unification, it is groundbreaking in its use of Planck power as a basis for exploring the connection. Despite these advancements, the theories remain largely theoretical, confined to mathematical equations and assumptions. Further research is needed to experimentally validate these ideas and potentially revolutionize our understanding of the universe. 'I Watched Time Slow Down in Orbit': This ESA Clock Is Revolutionizing the Science of Space-Time Precision The Implications of Quantized Spacetime If the concept of quantized spacetime proves accurate, it could fundamentally alter our understanding of the cosmos. This idea suggests that spacetime is not a smooth fabric but a collection of discrete units, changing the way we perceive gravity and other fundamental forces. In this model, the universe would operate much like a digital simulation, with everything broken down into its smallest components. Such a shift could have profound implications for fields ranging from cosmology to particle physics. The understanding of quantized spacetime could lead to new insights into how the universe began and how it might evolve. It could also provide a new lens through which to examine the fundamental forces that govern the cosmos. As researchers continue to explore this concept, it's possible that new technologies and methodologies will emerge, enabling us to probe deeper into the universe's mysteries. 'Earth Is Being Poisoned From Below': Microplastics Found in Earthworms Threaten Crops, Food Chains, and Human Survival Future Directions in Unified Physics The pursuit of a unified theory that encapsulates both general relativity and quantum mechanics remains one of the most compelling challenges in modern physics. The idea of quantized spacetime is a critical step in this journey, offering a new framework for understanding the universe. As scientists continue to explore this avenue, they are likely to encounter new challenges and opportunities for discovery. This ongoing research could pave the way for advances in technology and deepen our understanding of the universe's fundamental laws. The implications of such a breakthrough would not only transform physics but also potentially impact other scientific disciplines and even everyday life. As we stand on the brink of this new frontier, one can't help but wonder: what other secrets does the universe hold, waiting to be uncovered? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (25)
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Black hole dance illuminates hidden math of the universe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have made the most accurate predictions yet of the elusive space-time disturbances caused when two black holes fly closely past each other. The new findings, published Wednesday (May 14) in the journal Nature, show that abstract mathematical concepts from theoretical physics have practical use in modeling space-time ripples, paving the way for more precise models to interpret observational data. Gravitational waves are distortions in the fabric of space-time caused by the motion of massive objects like black holes or neutron stars. First predicted in Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity in 1915, they were directly detected for the first time a century later, in 2015. Since then, these waves have become a powerful observational tool for astronomers probing some of the universe's most violent and enigmatic events. To make sense of the signals picked up by sensitive detectors like LIGO (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) and Virgo, scientists need extremely accurate models of what those waves are expected to look like, similar in spirit to forecasting space weather. Until now, researchers have relied on powerful supercomputers to simulate black hole interactions that require refining black hole trajectories step by step, a process that is effective but slow and computationally expensive. Now, a team led by Mathias Driesse of Humboldt University in Berlin has taken a different approach. Instead of studying mergers, the researchers focused on "scattering events" — instances in which two black holes swirl close to each other under their mutual gravitational pull and then continue on separate paths without merging. These encounters generate strong gravitational wave signals as the black holes accelerate past one another. To model these events precisely, the team turned to quantum field theory, which is a branch of physics typically used to describe interactions between elementary particles. Starting with simple approximations and systematically layering complexity, the researchers calculated key outcomes of black hole flybys: how much they are deflected, how much energy is radiated as gravitational waves and how much the behemoths recoil after the interaction. Their work incorporated five levels of complexity, reaching what physicists call the fifth post-Minkowskian order — the highest level of precision ever achieved in modeling these interactions. Reaching this level "is unprecedented, and represents the most precise solution to Einstein's equations produced to date," Gustav Mogull, a particle physicist at Queen Mary University of London and a co-author of the study, told The team's reaction to achieving the landmark precision was "mostly just astonishment that we managed to get the job done," Mogull recalled. Related stories: — What is the theory of general relativity? Understanding Einstein's space-time revolution — What are gravitational waves? — What is string theory? While calculating the energy radiated as gravitational waves, researchers found that intricate six-dimensional shapes known as Calabi–Yau manifolds appeared in the equations. These abstract geometrical structures — often visualized as higher-dimensional analogues of donut-like surfaces — have long been a staple of string theory, a framework attempting to unify quantum mechanics with gravity. Until now, they were believed to be purely mathematical constructs, with no directly testable role tied to observable phenomena. In the new study, however, these shapes appeared in calculations describing the energy radiated as gravitational waves when two black holes cruised past one another. This marks the first time they've appeared in a context that could, in principle, be tested through real-world experiments. Mogull likens their emergence to switching from a magnifying glass to a microscope, revealing features and patterns previously undetectable. "The appearance of such structures sheds new light on the sorts of mathematical objects that nature is built from," he said. These findings are expected to significantly enhance future theoretical models that aim to predict gravitational wave signatures. Such improvements will be crucial as next-generation gravitational wave detectors — including the planned Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and the Einstein Telescope in Europe — come online in the years ahead. "The improvement in precision is necessary in order to keep up with the higher precision anticipated from these detectors," Mogull said.
