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All About Gravitational Waves

Gravitational waves are ripples or vibrations in space-time (the fabled “fabric” of the Universe) caused by massive objects moving with extreme accelerations. In outer space that means objects like rapidly rotating lumpy neutron stars, or neutron stars or black holes orbiting around each other ever closer at ever increasing rates and eventually colliding, or stars that blow themselves up (a supernovae). These ripples travel through space at the speed of light in all directions from their source, dissipating in strength with distance, and passing through everything in their paths.

Explore the links below to learn more about these ephemeral phenomena.