2017 Noble Prize in Physics Given to Discovery of Gravitional Waves

Gravity waves were predicted by Einstein approximately 100 years ago but it wasn't until recently that the modern technology was capable of detecting them. Einstein calculated that large distortions in space caused by massive disruptions such as Black Hole collisions would send out "shock waves" of gravity at the speed of light throughout the universe. These shock waves would have to be huge to travel enormous distances through space and be detected on Earth.  

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) was the first to detect a gravitational wave in 2016. LIGO was the result of collaboration of over 1,000 scientists across the globe but the Noble Prize can only be granted to a maximum of 3 scientists. Therefore it was awarded to the physicists who conceived of the project (Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss and Barry Barrish). 

The award of the Nobel Prize to the LIGO scientists accentuates how big this discovery is to astronomy!
Congratulations to the entire team of scientists around the world that made this major discovery possible.

Maddalena Environmental Inc.
​Al Maddalena