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Gravitational Wave Detection Imminent?

Seumas Hyslop writes "The UK Telegraph is reporting that we may finally have equipment that are sensitive enough to measure gravitational waves, which are incredibly small and have evaded detection despite the theories that they are present as a way of explaining gravitational effects. Basically, a laser beam is split into two branches that are sent down two identical 2000 feet long tubes and back again via mirrors. Assuming the two arms remain exactly the same distance, they will cancel each other out. But the scientists think that the beams will interfere with each other owing to the effect of gravity, meaning the length of the branches is altered and a gravitational wave has been detected."

15 of 326 comments (clear)

  1. Waves? by MavEtJu · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bring out your gravity surfboard and roll on!

    --
    bash$ :(){ :|:&};:
  2. Re:Obligatory nitpick by ari_j · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe the gravitational waves changed the i into an a.

  3. Re:hehe by strider44 · · Score: 3, Funny

    No the headline was completely correct. The scientists are thinking that current technology can actually read gravitational waves and we're actually detecting it all the time in our minds! So not only is it immanent but it's immanently immanent!

  4. Re:IANAP, but... by Geoff+St.+Germaine · · Score: 2, Funny

    I imagine that you've stumbled upon the flaw overlooked by teams of experts on General Relativity.

  5. Re:difference by msuarezalvarez · · Score: 5, Funny
    Is there some form of callibration ?

    Do you seriously think they might have forgotten about callibration? Do you think whoever is in charge of this thing is that dumb? By all means, if you do, pick up a telephone, call them and shout "Remember to do some form of callibration!!!". Be sure to be very emphatic. Science will thank you.

  6. Thnak Yuo! by BigPoppaT · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thnaks to all teh braev suols who wer willign to bern kamra to piont out teh diferense btween "immanent" and "imminent". Othrewise we all wuold haev to RFTA and haev a maeningful dicsussion. Tihs is Slasdhot, and we ca'nt haev taht heer! (Stewpid atricles!)

  7. Re:hehe by Fred_A · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not an error, don't you know that in US english on the Internet any vowel can replace any other ?

    The few readers who will actually know what "immanent" means will also know that it was actually supposed to be "imminent", so no harm done. The rest will just see it spelled as usual.

    Live with the times !

    --

    May contain traces of nut.
    Made from the freshest electrons.
  8. Re:hehe by Sexy+Bern · · Score: 1, Funny

    Don't be rediculous, their trying there best.

  9. Re:Can someone please explain this (dumbed down)? by afaik_ianal · · Score: 2, Funny

    Argh - So now the Europan's are using feet and the American's are using metres? I think I must've just walked through a ripple in time-space or something.

  10. Re:hehe by Bogtha · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not an error, don't you know that in US english on the Internet any vowel can replace any other ?

    That's the most rediculous thing I've ever heard!

    --
    Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha
  11. Re:Can someone please explain this (dumbed down)? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Right - so what your saying is that these scientists would be better off using a couple of supernovae core collapses for their experiment instead of a couple of mirrors. Actually so they can measure the interference in the reflected lasers they would probably have to keep the mirrors but put them inside each of the two supernovae collapses. Now it's all making sense.

    I don't know about anyone else, but I think these "physicist" people have really been holding progress back. I mean if they had got off their arses and done this experiment years ago with a couple of supernovae collapses then they would have probably worked out how to surf these gravitational waves and I would have my flying car!

    Bastards!

  12. gravity wave already detected by Chris6502 · · Score: 2, Funny

    No need for fancy experiments. My wife detected a gravity wave using our car recently. One minute she was driving along minding her own business, next minute she was in a ditch after a rogue wave shifted the entire road out from under her.

    Anyway, that's her story and she's sticking to it.

    --
    UNIX: 'cuz you can tattoo it on your knuckles!
  13. Re:Can someone please explain this (dumbed down)? by SkjeggApe · · Score: 2, Funny
    Well, first off.. THIS IS ONLY A THEORY!!!

    There's a TON of sientifffic evidance that counterdicts this, obviously flawed theory, and that PROVES beyond any doubt that intelligent falling is just as valid and should be taught as a valid theory right next to this supposed "fact"

  14. Re:hehe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    HAHA, LIL

  15. Only in America by planetfinder · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm on pins and needles here. I'm wondering if gravitational waves will be complicated enough to require
    an application of the new theory of intelligent design.