Contemporary · North America · Science
2016
Gravitational waves detected
February 11, 2016
LIGO scientists announced that twin observatories in Louisiana and Washington had felt the ripples in spacetime from two black holes colliding 1.3 billion years ago. Einstein had predicted them a century earlier. The chirp lasted a fifth of a second and opened an entirely new way of listening to the universe.
In context
Also in 2016 (7 other events on record)
- Trump elected president · North America · Politics
- AlphaGo beats Lee Sedol · East Asia · Technology
- Brexit referendum · Europe · Politics
- Failed Turkish coup · Middle East · Politics
- Pulse nightclub massacre · North America · Disaster
- Rio Olympics open · South America · Culture
Before and after in North America
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Era
Contemporary (2001–2026), one of 196 events from that era on Saeculum.