Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a large scientific facility designed to detect gravitational waves—ripples in space-time caused by massive cosmic events like merging black holes or neutron stars. LIGO uses lasers to measure tiny changes in the distance between two long arms, each several kilometers long. When a gravitational wave passes, it stretches and squeezes space-time, causing a minuscule shift in the lengths of the arms. Detecting these changes helps scientists understand the universe’s most violent processes and test Einstein's theory of general relativity, offering insights into the fabric of reality itself.