Part 6/8:
Gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime first predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, were first detected in 2015. The recent detection of GW190521 was made possible by three interferometers capable of measuring gravitational waves with precision far beyond the scale of atomic nuclei. This remarkable achievement showcases the advancements in our ability to study black holes from distances that were previously unimaginable.
Karan Jani, an astrophysicist with the Nobel-winning LIGO experiment, emphasized the significance of detecting such a large black hole from halfway across the universe and remarked on the limitations of our theoretical and observational frameworks regarding this elusive category of black holes.