What happens when LIGO texts you it's detected one of Einstein's predicted gravitational waves
Feb 11, 2016 15:52 pm UTC| Science
The best thing about a day in my life on the lookout for gravitational waves is that I never know when it will begin. Like many of my colleagues working for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory...
Gravitational waves discovered: the universe has spoken
Feb 11, 2016 15:50 pm UTC| Science
Up until now, humanity has been deaf to the gravitational sounds of the universe. At last, we have heard our first message. On September 14, 2015, the first data arrived! Our observation of the gravitational waves from...

When black holes meet: inside the cataclysms that cause gravitational waves
Feb 11, 2016 15:47 pm UTC| Science
It has long been predicted that when two black holes merge, they ought to give out a staggering amount of energy in the form of gravitational waves. To put the breathtaking scale of this outburst into perspective, its...

Explainer: gravitational waves and why their discovery is such a big deal
Feb 11, 2016 15:44 pm UTC| Science
Scientists working at the LIGO experiment in the US have for the first time detected elusive ripples in the fabric of space and time known as gravitational waves. There is no doubt that the finding is one of the most...

Gravitational waves found: how we proved the power of the dark side
Feb 11, 2016 15:42 pm UTC| Science
One hundred years ago Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity predicted the existence of a dark side to the cosmos. He thought there were invisible gravitational waves, ripples in space-time produced by some of...
Opposition to genetically modified animals could leave millions hungry
Feb 11, 2016 08:00 am UTC| Insights & Views Science
In a world with a ballooning population and deteriorating environment, we will need to use every trick in the book to stave off mass starvation, disease and political chaos. According the Food and Agriculture...

Explainer: what is the gut microbiota and how does it affect mind and body?
Feb 07, 2016 15:07 pm UTC| Science
The human gastrointestinal tract harbours trillions of microorganisms, consisting of up to 1,000 or so different bacterial species. These bacteria, known collectively as the gut microbiota, perform a number of vital...