12 February 2016
Why The Discovery of Gravity Waves is BIG News
Posted by Dan Satterfield

XKCD’s take on Gravity Waves.
Today’s announcement about gravity waves is REALLY big news. Not because it confirmed Einstein, but because we can now detect something we could not before. When we learned to detect radio waves, the world changed. Detecting X rays lead to amazing advances in medicine and seeing Infrared light lead to cameras that can see at night, along with the ability to measure temperatures, and detect elements on stars and planets. Seeing light that our eyes cannot see has led us to stunning discoveries about our place in the cosmos.
And your post, Dan, exhibits the reason I have followed your blog for years. It’s not your deep understanding of the science in your chosen field or any other, or even your ability to articulate it to others; it’s your exuberance for science in general; and your willingness to share your own excitement to others.
That’s something we can all cultivate and posses and admire in others; and (in my opinion) your contribution to the world of science has value that is impossible to quantify.
This would be a better world with more like you in it.
And I hope that doesn’t sound as sappy to you as it does to me! 🙂
Thanks Dan!
Sorry for nitpicking, but it’s gravitational waves not gravity waves (which are something different).
Good point, and I agree. It seems almost everyone made that same mistake today, and I am not sure it is worth correcting, but there is indeed a difference.