Initial Tests Fail To Find Gravitational Waves

eldavojohn writes that though gravitational waves are "predicted to exist by Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, the initial tests run by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration (LIGO) failed to find anything. It doesn't disprove their existence although it does rule out a subset of string theory. From the article, 'For example, some models predict the existence of cosmic strings, which are loops in space-time that may have formed in the early universe and gotten stretched to large scales along with the expansion of the universe. These objects are thought to produce bursts of gravitational waves as they oscillate. Since no large-amplitude gravitational waves were found, cosmic strings, if they exist at all, must be smaller than some models predict.' The scientists working in Washington and Louisiana (in tandem to rule out flukes) will now move on to Advanced LIGO which will analyze a volume of space 1,000 times larger. If they don't find any gravitational waves in that experiment, the results will be more than unsettling to many theorists."

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Re:Just because they failed to detect any

[TapeCutter]

"as [the scientist] pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

He can see the theologians who have taken that final leap to the top of the rock but the force of logic seperates his real world rock from where the theologians of inumerable religions have been sitting for centuries arguing about who's imaginary friend has the bigus dickus.

Like a glass ceiling the force of logic stops him from pulling himself up the last rock, so he sits down with his back against the rock admiring the view. He muses to himself that his mind is but a tool by which the universe can observe itself. He wonders about the quantam mechanics in the rock that is countering the force of gravity and holding him and the theologians up.

Every now and then the scientist tries to show the theologians the virtue and fruits of critical thinking that surrounds us in the modern world but all such attempts at enlightenment have resulted in the theologians shouting "my god did it" and tossing feaces at the scientist and each another.