Astronomers find first evidence of long-theorised form of gravitational waves that create 'background hum' rumbling throughout the universe
This handout photograph released on June 29, 2023 shows the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy's Radio Telescope Effelsberg near Bad Munstereifel. / Photo: AFP
Their existence was not confirmed until 2015, when the US and Italian observatories detected the first gravitational waves created by two black holes colliding. "We now know that the universe is awash with gravitational waves," Michael Keith of the European Pulsar Timing Array told AFP news agency.As gravitational waves travel through space, they very subtly squeeze and stretch everything they pass through.
French astrophysicist Antoine Petiteau said they were able to"detect changes of less than one-millionth of a second across more than 20 years".
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