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Lab Tuned to Gravity's 'Ripples'
Krishna Dagli writes "One of the great scientific experiments of our age is now fully underway. Success would confirm fundamental physical theories and open a new window on the Universe, enabling scientists to probe the moment of creation itself. The experiment is trying to detect ripples created in the fabric of space-time that sweep out from merging black holes or exploding stars and detection would be a final test of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. "
Of course we should be investing in this technology. Even if it does cost us millions, nay even billions. Gravity is the single most important universal effect, and the sooner we know what it is, and how to manipulate it the better. A few billion upfront for that sort of tech is peanuts.
If the research doesn't pan out, then we will move on and create new hypothesis. You can only throw so much money at one thing at a time. If we fail, we redo.
just imagine the possibilities. Flying car anyone?
Baz
Plausible alternative hypotheses are nice to have, but shouldn't be a requirement for the simple reason that there might not be any plausible alternatives. Or at least none concievable with current knowledge, thus further necessitating the gathering of scientific proof as it can show whether you're missing some vital piece of knowledge.
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"It's important to have alternative hypotheses"
Is it? If I remember correctly the lack of an alternate hypothesis when Michelson and Morley failed to detect the aether caused Einstein to beging pondering special relativity.
Right now we are uncertain of the exact speed of gravity. Some measurements resulted in speed between 0.8 and 1.2 times the speed of light (according to this). If the speed of gravity is greater than the speed of light, does that violate the general relativity? There are many consequences.
It is important that we find what gravity is, because if it is a wave of particles, then maybe there is a possibility to find a way to shield gravity away. Shielding gravity would be a major step towards space exploration.