http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2009/UR_CONTENT_133361.html
"In his theory of general relativity, Einstein described gravity as a curvature of space, like the sag in a mattress beneath a bowling ball. He predicted that cataclysmic events like the merging of two black holes would send ripples called gravitational waves coursing through the fabric of space at the speed of light. But they would be too feeble to detect."
Until now. The LIGO experiment, which includes this installation in Louisiana, is testing this prediction with their "gravity telescope" Two lasers at perpendicular angles which can detect these ripples if they exist.
Is Nature free? What about Science?
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Are you asking about Science and Nature the peer-reviewed journals? If so, no they are not free. But the 7th floor of MCB has a reading room where these journals are available.
ReplyDeleteI think this is great, but if we have yet to even define gravity how can they detect it? What are the implications of detecting this phenomenon? Remember, they had to sell it to the government some how. Think of how nuclear physics was sold to the government for funding.
Good questions. Unfortunately, outside of talking to physicists, I would not know how to answer those questions.
ReplyDeleteThis experiment is working off of Einstein's assumption and prediction. That we haven't defined gravity is inconsequential. Call this Einstein Gravity to help make the distinction.