How Two Dead Stars Sparked a New Field of Astronomy

The video explores the journey from the theoretical prediction of gravitational waves to their direct detection. It begins with the 2015 discovery of gravitational waves, then delves into the earlier work of Hulse and Taylor, who discovered a binary pulsar system in the 1970s. This system provided indirect evidence for gravitational waves, supporting Einstein's theory of general relativity. The video then discusses the development and success of LIGO, which directly detected gravitational waves in 2015, opening a new window into the universe.

What was the first observational evidence that gravitational waves existed?

What role did the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) play in the detection of gravitational waves?

How do gravitational waves provide a new way to understand the universe compared to light?