Unprecedented Discovery: Universe's Gravitational Wave Symphony Finally Heard

Scientists with the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) have detected the perpetual chorus of gravitational waves rippling through the universe for the first time. These gravitational waves, produced by pairs of supermassive black holes spiraling towards cataclysmic collisions, are the most powerful ever measured, carrying roughly a million times more energy than bursts from black hole and neutron star mergers. The discovery opens a new window of observation on the universe and provides insights into the fate of supermassive black hole pairs and the frequency of galaxy mergers. The gravitational wave background is about twice as loud as expected, suggesting the presence of heavier and more abundant supermassive black holes or the possibility of alternative explanations for the universe's birth.