Slashdot Mirror
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."
Bring out your gravity surfboard and roll on!
bash$
Maybe the gravitational waves changed the i into an a.
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!
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.
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!)
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.
That's the most rediculous thing I've ever heard!
Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha