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Science In Action: Hearing the Universe for the First Time

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Artist’s impression of two black holes colliding

11/02/2016 GMT

Hearing the Universe for the First Time

BBC World Service - Science In Action, Hearing the Universe for the First Time

Hearing the universe for the first time – scientists detect gravitational wave signal

LIGO; Horses know when you're angry; Neanderthal DNA may influence depression; Bacteria ‘see’ light; Light flashes could stop jet lag; Climate change affects transatlantic flights

Scientists have announced a revolution in astronomy: LIGO – the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory – has recorded signals of the gravitational waves resulting from two black holes colliding.  Gravitational waves are tiny ripples in space time, which Albert Einstein predicted in his general theory of relativity over 100 years ago.  Large bodies like black holes warp space-time around themselves, and when they collide, the distortions of the collision ripple outward at the speed of light.  LIGO consists of two giant detectors, each eight kilometres in length, one in Louisiana and one in Washington State.  The detectors are like microphones listening to the Universe, sensitive to waves coming in from all directions.  Professor Sheila Rowan explains why this discovery is equivalent to developing an entirely new sense, allowing astrophysicists to “hear” the universe for the first time.

Horses Know When You Are Angry
Domestication has enabled horses to distinguish human emotions, a new study shows.  When the horses were shown pictures of angry human faces, they tended to look at them with their left eye – which is associated with perceiving negative stimuli.

Neanderthal DNA May Influence Depression
Homo sapiens migrating out of Africa first mingled with Neanderthals around 50,000 years ago.  A new study has identified Neanderthal genetic variants that may be responsible for conditions like depression, blood clotting and tobacco addiction in modern humans.

Pond Slime Bacteria Act Like Tiny Eyes
Biologists have solved the riddle of how a bacterium senses light and moves towards it. The entire organism acts like a tiny eyeball, focusing light on the far side of the cell.

Light Flashes Could Stop Jet Lag
Sleeping in front of a strobe light could help people realign their internal clock after travelling across time zones.  Researchers found that an hour of flashlight therapy shifted volunteers’ day-night cycle by up to two hours.

Climate Change Affects Transatlantic Flights
Air travel is an increasingly popular mode of transport, with thousands of planes up in the air at any given time.  According to estimates, aviation contributes around two percent to global carbon dioxide emissions, adding to global warming.  New research shows that this is actually a two-way street, with climate change also affecting planes’ travel times.  Rising temperatures will accelerate the jet stream – a strong, high-altitude wind that travels across the Atlantic – leaving westbound flights battling stronger headwinds.  Dr Paul Williams has calculated that this will cause planes on transatlantic routes to spend an extra 2,000 hours in the air, using up $20 million worth of extra fuel and increasing emissions even further.

(Photo: Artist’s impression of two black holes colliding © Nasa)

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