LIGO

LIGO, or the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is a scientific facility designed to detect gravitational waves—ripples in space-time caused by massive cosmic events like merging black holes or neutron stars. It uses two long, perpendicular arms with lasers that measure tiny changes in distance caused by these waves, which are incredibly faint. By analyzing these signals, LIGO helps scientists understand the universe's most violent phenomena and offers insight into fundamental physics, confirming parts of Einstein's general theory of relativity and expanding our understanding of the cosmos.