3317: Gravitational Square Wave

Gravitational Square Wave

|< < Prev #3317 (October 28, 2026)

Title text: Depending on the energy deposition I can manage, it might also be a fun prank on the rest of the Earth.

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Explanation

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Gravitational waves were predicted by general relativity, years before scientists were able to directly observe them. Significant gravitational waves can only be created by very heavy objects (like neutron stars) moving very quickly. Most such oscillations are binary pulsars whose oscillations create sine waves, which are smooth.

Fourier proved that sine waves of various amplitudes and frequencies can be summed to approximate any function. The comic diagram illustrates how a series of binary gravitational-wave oscillators can be stacked to produce a square wave. Square wave gravitational waves would be very unlikely to be found naturally, and observing such waves would surprise scientists. However, one would not be able to manuver black holes or neutron stars at all, much less in a manner to produce a gravitational wave with the level of accuracy to functionally work as a square wave.

The title text implies that the waves could be given enough energy to destroy or otherwise significantly affect the Earth.

Transcript

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[A diagram is pictured, showing a sine wave progressively being modified into a square wave using progressively smaller pairs of black holes, then neutron stars.]

[Caption below the panel:]

My Hobby: Arranging binary black holes and rotating neutron stars to produce a gravitational square wave, as a prank on gravitational wave astronomers

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Discussion

I think those pesky astronomers have a bigger thing to worry about. King Pando (talk) 02:49, 29 October 2026 (UTC)

randall out here pushing black holes and neutron stars billions of light-years away from earth GreyFox (talk) 03:50, 29 October 2026 (UTC)

POV Beret Guy is affected by this and just blurs into 2 beret guys This isn't a good name (talk) 03:57, 29 October 2026 (UTC)
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