Einstein Waves
Dennis Fischer <[email protected]> Tue, 17 Oct 2017 12:05:47 +0000
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Einstein=E2=80=99s waves detected in star smash
By Pallab GhoshScience correspondent, BBC News, Louisiana =20
- 16 October 2017
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- From the sectionScience & Environment
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Media captionScientists can convert the gravitational wave signal into soun=
dScientists have detected the warping of space generated by the collision o=
f two dead stars, or neutron stars.They have confirmed that such mergers le=
ad to the production of the gold and platinum that exists in the Universe.T=
he measurement of the gravitational waves given off by this cataclysmic eve=
nt was made on 17 August by the LIGO-VIRGO Collaboration.The discovery enab=
led telescopes all over the world to capture details of the merger as it un=
folded.David Reitze, executive director of the LIGO Laboratory at Caltech i=
n Pasadena, California, said: "This is the one we've all been waiting for."=
=20
- Einstein's waves win physics Nobel
- Gravitational waves quest to go into space
- Getting your head around Einstein's waves
- Gravitational waves: A triumph for big science
The outburst took place in a galaxy called NGC 4993, located roughly a thou=
sand billion, billion km away in the Constellation Hydra.It happened 130 mi=
llion years ago - when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. It was so far away that =
the light and gravitational waves have only just reached us.The stars thems=
elves had masses 10-20% greater than our Sun - but they were no larger than=
30km across.They were the crushed leftover cores of massive stars that lon=
g ago exploded as supernovas.They are called neutron stars because the proc=
ess of crushing the star makes the charged protons and electrons in the ato=
ms of the star combine - to form an object made entirely of neutrons.Such r=
emnants are incredibly dense - a teaspoonful would weigh a billion tonnes.I=
n the landscaped campus of one of the laboratories that made the detection,=
a fountain sprays jets of water skyward which are then pulled back down by=
gravity, sending ripples across the crystal clear pond.The LIGO detector, =
sitting incongruously in the vast woodland of Livingston in Louisiana, was =
designed to detect the gravitational ripples across the Universe created by=
cataclysmic cosmic events.Since it was upgraded two years ago, it has four=
times sensed the collisions of black holes.Gravitational waves caused by v=
iolent events send ripples through space-time that stretch and squeeze ever=
ything they pass through by a tiny amount - less than the width of an atom.=
Image copyrightNSF/LIGO/SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY/A.SIMONNETImage captionArtw=
ork: Merging neutron stars rippling across space-timeThe LIGO lab at Living=
ston consists of a small building with two, two-and-a-half-mile pipelines s=
tretching out at right angles. Inside each pipe is a powerful laser accurat=
ely measuring any change in its length.I walk along one of the pipes with P=
rof Norna Robertson, a Scot who used to work at Glasgow University - and mo=
re recently helped to design the instrument's detection system.Prof Roberts=
on's work has helped the LIGO-VIRGO Scientific Collaboration to make the fi=
rst ever detection of the gravitational waves given off by the collision of=
two neutron stars."I'm really thrilled about what we have done. I started =
off as a student in Glasgow 40 years ago working on gravitational waves. It=
's been a long long road; there have been some ups and downs but now it's a=
ll come together," she told BBC News."These last couple of years, first of =
all with the detection of black holes mergers and now a neutron star merger=
, I really feel we are opening up a new field, and that's what I wanted to =
do and now we've done it."The detection enabled 70 telescopes to obtain the=
first ever detailed pictures of such an event.These show an explosion 1,00=
0 times more powerful than a supernova - a burst called a kilonova.Gravitat=
ional waves - Ripples in the fabric of space-timeMedia captionA visualisati=
on shows the coalescence of two orbiting neutron stars =20
- Gravitational waves are a prediction of the Theory of General Relativi=
ty
- It took decades to develop the technology to directly detect them
- They are ripples in the fabric of space-time generated by violent even=
ts
- Accelerating masses will produce waves that propagate at the speed of =
light
- Detectable sources ought to include merging black holes and neutron st=
ars
- Ligo/Virgo fire lasers into long, L-shaped tunnels; the waves disturb =
the light
- Detecting the waves opens up the Universe to completely new investigat=
ions
Researchers had suspected that this huge release of energy leads to the cre=
ation of rare elements, such as gold and platinum.Dr Kate Maguire, from Que=
en's University Belfast, who analysed the collision's burst of light, said =
that the theory was now proven."Using some of the world's best telescopes, =
we have discovered that this neutron star merger scattered heavy chemical e=
lements, such as gold and platinum, out into space at high speeds."These ne=
w results have significantly contributed to solving the long-debated myster=
y of the origin of elements heavier than iron in the periodic table."Dr Joe=
Lyman, of the University of Warwick said described the observations as "ex=
quisite"."They tell us that the heavy elements, like the gold or platinum i=
n jewellery are the cinders, forged in the billion degree remnants of a mer=
ging neutron star."
Improvements coming
It was also direct confirmation that short bursts of gamma-ray radiation ar=
e linked to colliding neutron stars.By combining information from gravitati=
onal waves and the light collected by telescopes, researchers also used a n=
ew technique to measure the expansion rate of the Universe. This technique =
was first proposed in 1986 by the University of Cardiff's Prof Bernard Schu=
tz.Prof Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University told BBC News that this was=
"the first rung of a ladder" for a new method of measuring distances in th=
e Universe."A new observational window on the Universe typically leads to s=
urprises that cannot yet be foreseen. We are still rubbing our eyes, or rat=
her ears, as we have just woken up to the sound of gravitational waves," he=
said.Image copyrightNSFImage captionThe LIGO Louisiana lab has 4km-long pi=
pes running out from its control centreProf Nial Tanvir, from Leicester Uni=
versity, uses the VISTA telescope in Chile.He and his colleagues started se=
arching for the neutron star collision as soon as they heard of the gravita=
tional wave detection."We were really excited when we first got notificatio=
n that a neutron star merger had been detected by LIGO," he said. "We staye=
d up all night analysing the images as they came in, and it was remarkable =
how well the observations matched the theoretical predictions that had been=
made."LIGO is now being upgraded. In a year's time it will be twice as sen=
sitive - and so will be able to scan eight times the volume of the space.Th=
e researchers believe that detections of black holes and neutron stars will=
become common place. And they hope that they will begin to detect objects =
that they currently cannot even imagine and so usher in a new era of astron=
omy.Pallab Ghosh (@BBCPallab) | Twitter
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Pallab Ghosh (@BBCPallab) | Twitter
The latest Tweets from Pallab Ghosh (@BBCPallab). Science Correspondent fo=
r BBC News. London | |
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0px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46752"><div style=3D"border: 0=
px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretc=
h: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inh=
erit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 363.25px; vertica=
l-align: baseline; z-index: 999; position: relative; min-height: 0px; width=
: 645.781px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46753"><iframe name=3D"=
smphtml5iframemedia-player-1" frameborder=3D"0" scrolling=3D"no" src=3D"htt=
p://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.14.6/iframe.html" allowfullscreen=3D"" allowtran=
sparency=3D"" title=3D"Scientists can convert the gravitational wave signal=
into sound" style=3D"border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; color: inhe=
rit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; fon=
t-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-heig=
ht: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ; left: 0=
px; top: 0px; width: 645.781px; min-height: 363.25px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym1=
9_1_1508198819629_46754"></iframe></div></figure></div><div style=3D"border=
: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-str=
etch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: =
inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: b=
aseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46755"></div></div></div></=
div></div></div><figcaption style=3D"border: 0px; color: rgb(236, 236, 236)=
; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-f=
amily: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing:=
inherit; line-height: 1.23077; margin: 0px; padding: 16px; vertical-align:=
baseline; visibility: visible;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_4675=
6"><span style=3D"border: 0px !important; color: inherit; font-style: inher=
it; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; fon=
t-size: 13px; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: i=
nherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline; cli=
p: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; !important; min-height: 1px !i=
mportant; width: 1px !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_467=
57">Media caption</span>Scientists can convert the gravitational wave signa=
l into sound</figcaption></figure><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: in=
herit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; =
font-size: 1rem; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1=
.375; margin-top: 28px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_=
1508198819629_46758">Scientists have detected the warping of space generate=
d by the collision of two dead stars, or neutron stars.</div><div style=3D"=
border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inhe=
rit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-sp=
acing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 23px; vertical-align: basel=
ine;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46759">They have confirmed that=
such mergers lead to the production of the gold and platinum that exists i=
n the Universe.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-v=
ariant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1r=
em; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; marg=
in-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819=
629_46760">The measurement of the gravitational waves given off by this cat=
aclysmic event was made on 17 August by the LIGO-VIRGO Collaboration.</div>=
<div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font=
-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inhe=
rit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertica=
l-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46761">The discov=
ery enabled telescopes all over the world to capture details of the merger =
as it unfolded.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-v=
ariant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1r=
em; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; marg=
in-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819=
629_46762">David Reitze, executive director of the LIGO Laboratory at Calte=
ch in Pasadena, California, said: "This is the one we've all been waiting f=
or."</div><ul style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; fo=
nt-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weig=
ht: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-top: 18p=
x; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-st=
yle-type: none;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46763"><li style=3D"=
border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; fo=
nt-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: in=
herit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20=
px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: square =
outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46764"><a href=3D"http://ww=
w.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41476648" style=3D"border-width: 0px 0px=
1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom=
-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; borde=
r-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-lef=
t-color: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style=
: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inher=
it; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-heigh=
t: 1.375; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap=
-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198=
819629_46765">Einstein's waves win physics Nobel</a></li><li style=3D"borde=
r: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-st=
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e: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-rig=
ht-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-col=
or: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: inh=
erit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; f=
ont-size: 1rem; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.=
375; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap-high=
light-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_150819881962=
9_46767">Gravitational waves quest to go into space</a></li><li style=3D"bo=
rder: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font=
-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inhe=
rit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px=
; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: square ou=
tside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46768"><a href=3D"http://www.=
bbc.com/news/science-environment-35553549" style=3D"border-width: 0px 0px 1=
px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-s=
tyle: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-=
right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-=
color: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: =
inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit=
; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height:=
1.375; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap-h=
ighlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_150819881=
9629_46769">Getting your head around Einstein's waves</a></li><li style=3D"=
border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; fo=
nt-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: in=
herit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20=
px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: square =
outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46770"><a href=3D"http://ww=
w.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35523676" style=3D"border-width: 0px 0px=
1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom=
-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; borde=
r-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-lef=
t-color: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style=
: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inher=
it; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-heigh=
t: 1.375; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap=
-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198=
819629_46771">Gravitational waves: A triumph for big science</a></li></ul><=
div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-=
stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inher=
it; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical=
-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46772">The outburs=
t took place in a galaxy called NGC 4993, located roughly a thousand billio=
n, billion km away in the Constellation Hydra.</div><div style=3D"border: 0=
px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font=
-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: in=
herit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=
=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46773">It happened 130 million years ag=
o - when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. It was so far away that the light and =
gravitational waves have only just reached us.</div><div style=3D"border: 0=
px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font=
-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: in=
herit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=
=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46774">The stars themselves had masses =
10-20% greater than our Sun - but they were no larger than 30km across.</di=
v><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; fo=
nt-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: in=
herit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; verti=
cal-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46775">They wer=
e the crushed leftover cores of massive stars that long ago exploded as sup=
ernovas.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant:=
inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; fon=
t-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top:=
18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_467=
76">They are called neutron stars because the process of crushing the star =
makes the charged protons and electrons in the atoms of the star combine - =
to form an object made entirely of neutrons.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px=
; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-f=
amily: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inhe=
rit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D=
"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46777">Such remnants are incredibly dense =
- a teaspoonful would weigh a billion tonnes.</div><div style=3D"border: 0p=
x; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-=
family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inh=
erit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=
=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46778">In the landscaped campus of one =
of the laboratories that made the detection, a fountain sprays jets of wate=
r skyward which are then pulled back down by gravity, sending ripples acros=
s the crystal clear pond.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inher=
it; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; fon=
t-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1=
.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_=
1508198819629_46779">The LIGO detector, sitting incongruously in the vast w=
oodland of Livingston in Louisiana, was designed to detect the gravitationa=
l ripples across the Universe created by cataclysmic cosmic events.</div><d=
iv style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-s=
tretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inheri=
t; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-=
align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46780">Since it was=
upgraded two years ago, it has four times sensed the collisions of black h=
oles.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: in=
herit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-w=
eight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18=
px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46781"=
>Gravitational waves caused by violent events send ripples through space-ti=
me that stretch and squeeze everything they pass through by a tiny amount -=
less than the width of an atom.</div><figure style=3D"border: 0px; color: =
inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit;=
font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-=
height: inherit; margin: 24px 0 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: base=
line; background-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); clear: both;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym1=
9_1_1508198819629_46782"><span style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-s=
tyle: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: i=
nherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit=
; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; posi=
tion: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46783"><img src=3D"h=
ttps://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/16EA7/production/_98336839_artis=
t_large.jpg" datasrc=3D"https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/16EA7/p=
roduction/_98336839_artist_large.jpg" alt=3D"Artwork of neutron star merger=
" width=3D"976" height=3D"1000" data-highest-encountered-width=3D"624" styl=
e=3D"border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; color: rgb(189, 189, 189); f=
ont-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-fami=
ly: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: in=
herit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: aut=
o; max-width: 100%; user-select: none; width: 616.203px; transition: opacit=
y 0.2s ease-in; display: block;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_4678=
4" data-id=3D"d347571a-9f43-c4b7-32e4-db33d6dc3bb8" class=3D""><span style=
=3D"color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretc=
h: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inh=
erit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clip: re=
ct(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; border: 0px !important; padding: 0px=
!important; !important; min-height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important=
;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46785">Image copyright</span><span=
style=3D"border: 0px; color: rgb(236, 236, 236); font-style: inherit; font=
-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: =
0.75rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.33333=
; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 8px 1px; vertical-align: baseline; text-transfo=
rm: uppercase; background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6); bottom: 0px; ; right: 0px;" =
id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46786">NSF/LIGO/SONOMA STATE UNIVERSI=
TY/A.SIMONNET</span></span><figcaption style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit=
; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-f=
amily: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height:=
inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility:=
visible;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46787"><span style=3D"colo=
r: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inher=
it; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; li=
ne-height: inherit; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clip: rect(1px 1=
px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; border: 0px !important; padding: 0px !import=
ant; !important; min-height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;" id=3D=
"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46788">Image caption</span><span style=3D"=
border: 0px; color: rgb(236, 236, 236); font-style: inherit; font-variant: =
inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem;=
font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.23077; margi=
n: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: block;" id=3D"yui_=
3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46789">Artwork: Merging neutron stars rippling =
across space-time</span></figcaption></figure><div style=3D"border: 0px; fo=
nt-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-famil=
y: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit;=
line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui=
_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46790">The LIGO lab at Livingston consists of =
a small building with two, two-and-a-half-mile pipelines stretching out at =
right angles. Inside each pipe is a powerful laser accurately measuring any=
change in its length.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit;=
font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-s=
ize: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.37=
5; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_150=
8198819629_46791">I walk along one of the pipes with Prof Norna Robertson, =
a Scot who used to work at Glasgow University - and more recently helped to=
design the instrument's detection system.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; =
font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-fam=
ily: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inheri=
t; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"y=
ui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46792">Prof Robertson's work has helped the =
LIGO-VIRGO Scientific Collaboration to make the first ever detection of the=
gravitational waves given off by the collision of two neutron stars.</div>=
<div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font=
-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inhe=
rit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertica=
l-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46793">"I'm reall=
y thrilled about what we have done. I started off as a student in Glasgow 4=
0 years ago working on gravitational waves. It's been a long long road; the=
re have been some ups and downs but now it's all come together," she told B=
BC News.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant:=
inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; fon=
t-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top:=
18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_467=
94">"These last couple of years, first of all with the detection of black h=
oles mergers and now a neutron star merger, I really feel we are opening up=
a new field, and that's what I wanted to do and now we've done it."</div><=
div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-=
stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inher=
it; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical=
-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46795">The detecti=
on enabled 70 telescopes to obtain the first ever detailed pictures of such=
an event.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-varian=
t: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; f=
ont-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-to=
p: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_4=
6796">These show an explosion 1,000 times more powerful than a supernova - =
a burst called a kilonova.</div><hr style=3D"background-color: rgb(219, 219=
, 219); border: 0px; color: rgb(219, 219, 219); min-height: 1px; margin-bot=
tom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; width: 591.563px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508=
198819629_46797"><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-varia=
nt: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; =
font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-t=
op: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_=
46798"><strong style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inh=
erit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; letter-=
spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-a=
lign: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46799">Gravitational=
waves - Ripples in the fabric of space-time</strong></div><figure style=3D=
"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; f=
ont-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-sp=
acing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0 0px 0px; padding: 0px;=
vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" id=3D"yui_3_=
16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46800"><div style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit;=
font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-fa=
mily: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: =
inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 346.609px; vertical-align: baseline;=
min-height: 0px; position: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_150819881962=
9_46801"><img src=3D"https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/720x405/p05k3k09.jp=
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ight: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15081=
98819629_46813">Media caption</span>A visualisation shows the coalescence o=
f two orbiting neutron stars</figcaption></figure><ul style=3D"border: 0px;=
color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: =
inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inheri=
t; line-height: inherit; margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-left=
: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_y=
m19_1_1508198819629_46814"><li style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-s=
tyle: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: i=
nherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; lin=
e-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; verti=
cal-align: baseline; list-style: square outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1=
508198819629_46815">Gravitational waves are a prediction of the Theory of G=
eneral Relativity</li><li style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style:=
inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inheri=
t; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-hei=
ght: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-a=
lign: baseline; list-style: square outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_150819=
8819629_46816">It took decades to develop the technology to directly detect=
them</li><li style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; fo=
nt-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size=
: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; =
margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseli=
ne; list-style: square outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_4681=
7">They are ripples in the fabric of space-time generated by violent events=
</li><li style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-va=
riant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1re=
m; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margi=
n: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; l=
ist-style: square outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46818">Ac=
celerating masses will produce waves that propagate at the speed of light</=
li><li style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-vari=
ant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem;=
font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin:=
18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; lis=
t-style: square outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46819">Dete=
ctable sources ought to include merging black holes and neutron stars</li><=
li style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant:=
inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; fon=
t-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18p=
x 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; list-st=
yle: square outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46820">Ligo/Vir=
go fire lasers into long, L-shaped tunnels; the waves disturb the light</li=
><li style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-varian=
t: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; f=
ont-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 1=
8px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; list-=
style: square outside;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46821">Detect=
ing the waves opens up the Universe to completely new investigations</li></=
ul><hr style=3D"background-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); border: 0px; color: r=
gb(219, 219, 219); min-height: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; w=
idth: 591.563px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46822"><div style=
=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: =
inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; lette=
r-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: b=
aseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46823">Researchers had susp=
ected that this huge release of energy leads to the creation of rare elemen=
ts, such as gold and platinum.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: =
inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit=
; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-heig=
ht: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym=
19_1_1508198819629_46824">Dr Kate Maguire, from Queen's University Belfast,=
who analysed the collision's burst of light, said that the theory was now =
proven.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: =
inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font=
-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: =
18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_4682=
5">"Using some of the world's best telescopes, we have discovered that this=
neutron star merger scattered heavy chemical elements, such as gold and pl=
atinum, out into space at high speeds.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font=
-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family:=
inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; l=
ine-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3=
_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46826">"These new results have significantly con=
tributed to solving the long-debated mystery of the origin of elements heav=
ier than iron in the periodic table."</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-=
style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: =
inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; li=
ne-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_=
16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46827">Dr Joe Lyman, of the University of Warwick=
said described the observations as "exquisite".</div><div style=3D"border:=
0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; fo=
nt-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: =
inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" i=
d=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46828">"They tell us that the heavy el=
ements, like the gold or platinum in jewellery are the cinders, forged in t=
he billion degree remnants of a merging neutron star."</div><h2 style=3D"bo=
rder: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inher=
it; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.5rem; font-we=
ight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.16667; margin-top: 4=
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1=
_1508198819629_46829">Improvements coming</h2><div style=3D"border: 0px; fo=
nt-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-famil=
y: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit;=
line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui=
_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46830">It was also direct confirmation that sh=
ort bursts of gamma-ray radiation are linked to colliding neutron stars.</d=
iv><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; f=
ont-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: i=
nherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vert=
ical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46831">By comb=
ining information from gravitational waves and the light collected by teles=
copes, researchers also used a new technique to measure the expansion rate =
of the Universe. This technique was first proposed in 1986 by the Universit=
y of Cardiff's Prof Bernard Schutz.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-st=
yle: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: in=
herit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line=
-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16=
_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46832">Prof Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University=
told BBC News that this was "the first rung of a ladder" for a new method =
of measuring distances in the Universe.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; fon=
t-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family=
: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; =
line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_=
3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46833">"A new observational window on the Unive=
rse typically leads to surprises that cannot yet be foreseen. We are still =
rubbing our eyes, or rather ears, as we have just woken up to the sound of =
gravitational waves," he said.</div><figure style=3D"border: 0px; color: in=
herit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; f=
ont-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-he=
ight: inherit; margin: 24px 0 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseli=
ne; background-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); clear: both;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_=
1_1508198819629_46834"><span style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-sty=
le: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inh=
erit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; =
margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; positi=
on: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46835"><img src=3D"htt=
ps://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/611F/production/_98336842_1.jpg"=
datasrc=3D"https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/611F/production/_=
98336842_1.jpg" alt=3D"LIGO Louisiana" width=3D"976" height=3D"549" data-hi=
ghest-encountered-width=3D"624" style=3D"border-width: 0px; border-style: i=
nitial; color: rgb(189, 189, 189); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inher=
it; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; lett=
er-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; verti=
cal-align: baseline; min-height: auto; max-width: 100%; user-select: none; =
width: 616.203px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in; display: block;" id=3D"=
yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46836" data-id=3D"e1d108fc-f0ec-b94e-b4b1-4=
8bb62aee163"><span style=3D"color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-varia=
nt: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inhe=
rit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; vertical-a=
lign: baseline; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; border: 0px =
!important; padding: 0px !important; !important; min-height: 1px !importan=
t; width: 1px !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46837">Ima=
ge copyright</span><span style=3D"border: 0px; color: rgb(236, 236, 236); f=
ont-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-fami=
ly: inherit; font-size: 0.75rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.25=
px; line-height: 1.33333; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 8px 1px; vertical-align=
: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6); bott=
om: 0px; ; right: 0px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46838">NSF</s=
pan></span><figcaption style=3D"border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: in=
herit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; =
font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin=
: 0px; padding: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible;" id=3D=
"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46839"><span style=3D"color: inherit; font=
-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family:=
inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inher=
it; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); ove=
rflow: hidden; border: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; !important=
; min-height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19=
_1_1508198819629_46840">Image caption</span><span style=3D"border: 0px; col=
or: rgb(236, 236, 236); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-st=
retch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-weight: in=
herit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.23077; margin: 0px; padding:=
0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: block;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15=
08198819629_46841">The LIGO Louisiana lab has 4km-long pipes running out fr=
om its control centre</span></figcaption></figure><div style=3D"border: 0px=
; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-f=
amily: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inhe=
rit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D=
"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46842">Prof Nial Tanvir, from Leicester Un=
iversity, uses the VISTA telescope in Chile.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px=
; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-f=
amily: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inhe=
rit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D=
"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46843">He and his colleagues started searc=
hing for the neutron star collision as soon as they heard of the gravitatio=
nal wave detection.</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; fo=
nt-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size=
: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; =
margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_150819=
8819629_46844">"We were really excited when we first got notification that =
a neutron star merger had been detected by LIGO," he said. "We stayed up al=
l night analysing the images as they came in, and it was remarkable how wel=
l the observations matched the theoretical predictions that had been made."=
</div><div style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit=
; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight=
: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; v=
ertical-align: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46845">LIGO=
is now being upgraded. In a year's time it will be twice as sensitive - an=
d so will be able to scan eight times the volume of the space.</div><div st=
yle=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretc=
h: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; le=
tter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align=
: baseline;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46846">The researchers b=
elieve that detections of black holes and neutron stars will become common =
place. And they hope that they will begin to detect objects that they curre=
ntly cannot even imagine and so usher in a new era of astronomy.</div><div =
style=3D"border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stre=
tch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: inherit; =
letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-ali=
gn: baseline;" dir=3D"ltr" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508198819629_46847"><a =
href=3D"https://twitter.com/bbcpallab" style=3D"border-width: 0px 0px 1px; =
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r: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: inhe=
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_46848" class=3D"enhancr2_307d4dc0-de48-ce6f-3188-065634478c7f">Pallab Ghos=
h (@BBCPallab) | Twitter</a></div><div><br></div><div id=3D"enhancr2_307d4d=
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e latest Tweets from Pallab Ghosh (@BBCPallab). Science Correspondent for B=
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