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You Need Something New to Watch. What About the Universe? You Need Something New to Watch. What About the Universe?
(4 months later)
Op-DocsOp-Docs
Discover the boundaries of science — from your couch.Discover the boundaries of science — from your couch.
Video by Sarah Klein and Tom Mason
Ms. Klein and Mr. Mason are filmmakers.
In 1916, Albert Einstein made a prediction he thought could never be proved. He proposed that the acceleration or collision of stellar masses, such as black holes, would cause ripples that warp space and time. He called them gravitational waves. But he also supposed they would be far too small to detect. How do you measure something invisible? Nearly five decades later, Einstein’s unsolved mystery drove the physicist Rai Weiss to hunt for answers.In 1916, Albert Einstein made a prediction he thought could never be proved. He proposed that the acceleration or collision of stellar masses, such as black holes, would cause ripples that warp space and time. He called them gravitational waves. But he also supposed they would be far too small to detect. How do you measure something invisible? Nearly five decades later, Einstein’s unsolved mystery drove the physicist Rai Weiss to hunt for answers.
Weiss co-founded an observatory to prove the unprovable. Nergis Mavalvala, an astrophysicist on the team that built the observatory said, “We knew we were charting unknown territory.” Years passed. Then in 2015, the team found that Einstein was both right and wrong — gravitational waves exist and can be measured. The collaboration brought about one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in recent history. Their experience, portrayed in the short documentary above, shows that the limits of science are still untested. What else can we discover?Weiss co-founded an observatory to prove the unprovable. Nergis Mavalvala, an astrophysicist on the team that built the observatory said, “We knew we were charting unknown territory.” Years passed. Then in 2015, the team found that Einstein was both right and wrong — gravitational waves exist and can be measured. The collaboration brought about one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in recent history. Their experience, portrayed in the short documentary above, shows that the limits of science are still untested. What else can we discover?
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com.The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Sarah Klein and Tom Mason are the co-founders of Redglass Pictures, an award-winning creative production studio.Sarah Klein and Tom Mason are the co-founders of Redglass Pictures, an award-winning creative production studio.
Op-Docs is a forum for short, opinionated documentaries by independent filmmakers. Learn more about Op-Docs and how to submit to the series. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.Op-Docs is a forum for short, opinionated documentaries by independent filmmakers. Learn more about Op-Docs and how to submit to the series. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.