No one could have expected that on the first day that LIGO detectors were running, scientists would register signals of gravitational waves. We discuss the watershed discovery confirming the general theory of relativity with Dr. Andrzej Królak from the PAS Institute of Mathematics and Dr. Michał Bejger from the PAS Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, both members of the Virgo-POLGRAW group.

We talk to Professor Andrzej Trautman, Full Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Emeritus Professor at the University of Warsaw, about the consequences of the general theory of relativity, the theoretical foundations of gravitational waves and the difficulties in proving their existence.

The first direct observation of gravitational waves was a major breakthrough in contemporary astronomy – and Polish scientists made major contributions to the discovery.

Gravitational waves are not a rare phenomenon that happens only once in a while in our universe. Rather, such waves pass through the Earth on a daily basis, generated by cosmic events of various types. Studying their origins can teach us a great deal about the universe at large.

The development of gravitational wave detectors has made it possible for astronomers to penetrate the deepest corners of the universe in search of black holes and neutron stars.