An Einstein Experiment

A vast experiment is to be carried out to try and detect waves on the Earth to observe one of Albert Einstein’s greatest predictions.

19:05 26 November 2015

On 25 November 1915, Albert Einstein presented the final version of his field equations to the Prussian Academy of Sciences where he proposed the presence of gravitational waves that are essentially ripples of energy that distort the fabric of space time.

 

100 years later, a vast experiment is to be carried out to observe one of his greatest predictions. The experiment called Advanced Virgo will hunt for the most elusive of astrophysical phenomena.

 

Dr Franco Frasconi, from the University Pisa, who is part of Virgo's international team, said: "Maybe we have the opportunity for the first time to detect gravitational waves on the Earth.”

 

"This would be a clear demonstration that what [Einstein] said 100 years ago is absolutely correct."

"The technology available to detect gravitational waves is available just today.

 

"During the last 10 years, we have developed very sophisticated technology to construct this kind of interferometer."

 

Physicist Dr Toby Wiseman, from Imperial College London, UK, explained: "I'm not surprised we haven't directly seen gravity waves yet.

 

"Gravity is actually the most feeble of the forces and even dramatic astrophysical sources only emit weak gravity waves."

 

Now, in Italy, scientists hope to find them. But it won't be easy.