Editing 1642: Gravitational Waves
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From the patterns in the {{w|gravitational waves}} detected by this instrument, it might be possible to guess the nature of the event (e.g. two bodies with dissimilar masses circling a fixed point, two bodies with equal mass circling each other, collision of two massive bodies, etc.). It might also be possible to triangulate the location of the event. Based on these two facts (the location and nature of the event) we might be able to determine which astronomical bodies caused this event (and the status of those bodies afterwards). Thus, it provides an additional medium to observe the universe in addition to {{w|telescopes}} observing all kinds of {{w|electromagnetic radiation}}. This new medium might enable us to observe properties that we couldn't observe with the rest of our observation instruments. | From the patterns in the {{w|gravitational waves}} detected by this instrument, it might be possible to guess the nature of the event (e.g. two bodies with dissimilar masses circling a fixed point, two bodies with equal mass circling each other, collision of two massive bodies, etc.). It might also be possible to triangulate the location of the event. Based on these two facts (the location and nature of the event) we might be able to determine which astronomical bodies caused this event (and the status of those bodies afterwards). Thus, it provides an additional medium to observe the universe in addition to {{w|telescopes}} observing all kinds of {{w|electromagnetic radiation}}. This new medium might enable us to observe properties that we couldn't observe with the rest of our observation instruments. | ||
| − | However, the scientists in this comic appear to be receiving more than the expected signals from {{w|black hole}} collisions, they also receive gravitational {{w|Messaging spam|spam messages}}, such as invitations from {{w|Linkedin}}, a {{w|Mortgage loan|mortgage}} offer, and an announcement of a social meet-up, rather than observing astronomical events (see [[#Explanation of observed events|table below]]). | + | However, the scientists in this comic appear to be receiving more than the expected signals from {{w|black hole}} collisions, they also receive gravitational {{w|Messaging spam|spam messages}}, such as invitations from {{w|Linkedin}}, a {{w|Mortgage loan|mortgage}} offer, and an announcement of a social meet-up, rather than observing astronomical events (see [[#Explanation of observed events |table below]]). |
There is also a joke on the social meet-up's use of the word ''local group'' because the '{{w|Local Group}}' is also the technical name for the group of galaxies containing the {{w|Milky Way}}. | There is also a joke on the social meet-up's use of the word ''local group'' because the '{{w|Local Group}}' is also the technical name for the group of galaxies containing the {{w|Milky Way}}. | ||
| − | It is not clear if these so | + | It is not clear if these so called "events" are causing gravitational waves to be generated or if something, perhaps an alien civilization, is encoding spam messages in gravitational waves. It is plausible that aliens are using gravity waves to encode their messages, as we do something similar with electromagnetic waves to encode and send our messages. However, it would take an extremely advanced civilization to achieve gravity wave encoding. It requires the controlling of orbits and oscillations of super-massive bodies like the Sun, or more likely bodies ten times more massive than it. For example, the first event detected, both in this comic and in real life, was a merger of two black holes of roughly 30 solar masses each. |
The title text makes the speculation, that something is sending spam encoded in gravity waves, seem more plausible, as it follows up with a joke that the message senders have gone to such a length that they caused the most energetic event recorded ever (perhaps on the scale of a few {{w|supernovae}} or black hole collisions). One of the scientists is so impressed with this effort that he suggests that they actually post a reply, but one of the other person declines with a "''Nah''"! (As you should always do with spam, else you will just encourage the sender by making it clear that there actually is a receiver on this address.) Randall may have been referring to the fact that the detected event had a power output equal to 50 times that of the entire visible universe. | The title text makes the speculation, that something is sending spam encoded in gravity waves, seem more plausible, as it follows up with a joke that the message senders have gone to such a length that they caused the most energetic event recorded ever (perhaps on the scale of a few {{w|supernovae}} or black hole collisions). One of the scientists is so impressed with this effort that he suggests that they actually post a reply, but one of the other person declines with a "''Nah''"! (As you should always do with spam, else you will just encourage the sender by making it clear that there actually is a receiver on this address.) Randall may have been referring to the fact that the detected event had a power output equal to 50 times that of the entire visible universe. | ||
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==Explanation of observed events== | ==Explanation of observed events== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| − | | | | + | | | <b >Event</b> |
| − | | | | + | | | <b >Explanation</b> |
|- | |- | ||
| | Black hole merger in Carina (30 M<sub>☉</sub>, 30 M<sub>☉</sub>) | | | Black hole merger in Carina (30 M<sub>☉</sub>, 30 M<sub>☉</sub>) | ||
| | | | | | ||
| − | Possibly legitimate result from the gravitational wave detector. M<sub>☉</sub> means 1 {{w|Solar Mass}} (1.98892×10<sup>30</sup> kg). So the statement means that {{w|Binary black hole|two black holes}}, each one 30 times more massive than our Sun were observed {{w|Stellar collision|merging}} in the {{w|Carina (constellation)|Carina constellation}}. This observation is similar to the one actually reported in the announcement on the day of this comic, were the two black holes had masses of 36 and 29 solar masses (with | + | Possibly legitimate result from the gravitational wave detector. M<sub>☉</sub> means 1 {{w|Solar Mass}} (1.98892×10<sup>30</sup> kg). So the statement means that {{w|Binary black hole|two black holes}}, each one 30 times more massive than our Sun were observed {{w|Stellar collision|merging}} in the {{w|Carina (constellation)|Carina constellation}}. This observation is similar to the one actually reported in the announcement on the day of this comic, were the two black holes had masses of 36 and 29 solar masses (with a uncertainty that meant they could have had masses as close as 32 and 30 solar masses vs the 30+30 in this event). Also the {{w|Gravitational_wave_observation#Location_of_the_event|location of the event}} matches with Carina. Although at present time it is not possible to pinpoint the location of the event (that will need more detectors spread out across Earth) they still manage to find out that it most likely originated in the {{w|Southern Celestial Hemisphere}}, which is also where the Carina constellation is located. |
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| | Zorlax the Mighty would like to connect on Linkedin | | | Zorlax the Mighty would like to connect on Linkedin | ||
