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History of discovery

The History of Gravitational Waves

From Einstein's 1916 prediction that mass in motion should ripple spacetime, through a century of doubt about whether they could ever be detected, to the first direct detection of a black-hole merger in 2015 — and a new way of observing the universe.

Highlights

  • A century from prediction to detection

Across the history of discovery

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.