Eight years after the historic detection of gravitational waves, which earned the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2017, scientists have now found evidence suggesting the presence of a multitude of gravitational waves that exist throughout the universe. These waves collectively deform and reshape spacetime, exerting an influence on the motion and behavior of celestial bodies.

The recent discovery, made by a global scientific collaboration, sheds light on what researchers are calling the “gravitational wave background.” The evidence was obtained using a different technological approach from the one employed in the initial detection of gravitational waves in 2015. Rather than relying on the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), this breakthrough involved the use of six large radio telescopes around the world, including the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope in Pune, India, operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA).

The scientists measured infinitesimal delays, in the range of millionths of a second, in the signals emitted by distant rapidly rotating stars known as pulsars. These delays are believed to be the result of deformities caused in spacetime by gravitational waves. By carefully analyzing the data, researchers have detected the presence of a gravitational wave background, suggesting that gravitational waves are constantly deforming spacetime across the universe.

Yashwant Gupta, the director of NCRA, explains the significance of this discovery using an analogy. He compares the falling of raindrops onto a lake, where each drop creates its own wave. As these waves interact, they produce a combined effect on the lake’s surface. Similarly, the universe experiences the continuous deformation of spacetime caused by numerous gravitational waves originating from various cosmic events. This combined effect influences the movement and behavior of all celestial bodies, including our planet Earth.

The detection of the gravitational wave background opens up new avenues for scientific research and a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the universe. It provides valuable insights into the behavior of celestial bodies and their intricate movements under the influence of gravity. This discovery marks another significant milestone in our quest to comprehend the fundamental nature of the universe and the invisible forces that shape it.