A few weeks ago there was a landmark day for our understanding of the universe when the detection of gravitational waves was announced by scientisits at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) proving a 100 year old theory of Albert Einstein to be correct. When discussing this around the water cooler at work it was difficult to explain the importance and implications of the discovery.  Physicist Brian Greene, reknown for his ability to break down the super complicated into understandable ideas, explains the discovery brilliantly in this video from the World Science Festival.

Greene has become known to books wriiten to explain complex theories such as Quantum Mechanics and String Theory through his books , The Elegant Universe, The Fabric of the Cosmos, The Hidden Reality, and related PBS television specials (All of which we recommend you read and watch).

In an interview with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show Green Explained that “the discovery is important because it allows scientists to study the universe in a whole new way”.

“Gravity can go into places in the universe that light cannot penetrate … So, using these gravitational disturbances we may actually be able to study how black holes combine. We may be able to study even the Big Bang itself.”