Gravitational Wave Observatory

A Gravitational Wave Observatory detects ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events like merging black holes or neutron stars. These ripples, called gravitational waves, stretch and squeeze space slightly, which observatories measure using highly sensitive laser interferometers. By analyzing these signals, scientists can observe phenomena that are invisible through traditional telescopes, offering new insights into the universe’s most extreme events and its fundamental nature. Such observatories, like LIGO and Virgo, enable us to listen to the universe's dynamic and energetic processes in a way previously impossible.