What are gravitational waves?
Gravitational waves are tiny propagating distortions of space-time produced by accelerating massive objects.
How it works and what the evidence shows
Core idea General relativity describes mass and energy as curving space-time. Merging black holes or neutron stars send changes in this curvature outward as waves. Evidence and research Interferometers compare the travel of light along long arms to find minute changes in length. Multiple instruments help distinguish a real event from noise and constrain its location.
Uses and limitations
Why it matters The signal offers a way to study mergers that may be dark in ordinary light. Combining it with electromagnetic observations can reveal properties of extremely dense matter. Common misunderstandings Not every moving mass produces a detectable signal; distance and strength matter. A detector measures a change in space-time, not a recorded sound.