Gravitational Waves: How Einstein’s Spacetime Ripples Reveal the Secrets of the Universe

by Brian Clegg

Until then, investigation of the universe had depended on electromagnetic radiation: visible light, radio, X-rays and the rest. But gravitational waves – ripples in the fabric of space and time – are unrelenting, passing through barriers that stop light dead.

At the two 4-kilometre long LIGO observatories in the US, scientists developed incredibly sensitive detectors, capable of spotting a movement 100 times smaller than the nucleus of an atom. In 2015 they spotted the ripples produced by two black holes spiralling into each other, setting spacetime quivering.

This was the first time black holes had ever been directly detected – and it promises far more for the future of astronomy. Brian Clegg presents a compelling story of human technical endeavour and a new, powerful path to understand the workings of the universe.

Brian Clegg’s most recent books are The Reality Frame (Icon, 2017), What Colour is the Sun? (Icon, 2016) and Ten Billion Tomorrows (St Martin’s Press, 2016). His Dice World and A Brief History of Infinity were both longlisted for the Royal Society Prize for Science Books. He has also written Big Data for the Hot Science series. Brian has written for numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, Nature, BBC Focus, Physics World, The Times and The Observer. Brian is editor of popularscience.co.uk and blogs at brianclegg.blogspot.com.

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Astronomy, Audiobook, Space

176 pages, Paperback

First published February 8, 2018

About the author

Brian's latest books, Ten Billion Tomorrows and How Many Moons does the Earth Have are now available to pre-order. He has written a range of other science titles, including the bestselling Inflight Science, The God Effect, Before the Big Bang, A Brief History of Infinity, Build Your Own Time Machine and Dice World.

Along with appearances at the Royal Institution in London he has spoken at venues from Oxford and Cambridge Universities to Cheltenham Festival of Science, has contributed to radio and TV programmes, and is a popular speaker at schools. Brian is also editor of the successful www.popularscience.co.uk book review site and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Brian has Masters degrees from Cambridge University in Natural Sciences and from Lancaster University in Operational Research, a discipline originally developed during the Second World War to apply the power of mathematics to warfare. It has since been widely applied to problem solving and decision making in business.

Brian has also written regular columns, features and reviews for numerous publications, including Nature, The Guardian, PC Week, Computer Weekly, Personal Computer World, The Observer, Innovative Leader, Professional Manager, BBC History, Good Housekeeping and House Beautiful. His books have been translated into many languages, including German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, Norwegian, Thai and even Indonesian.

Reviews

[Fergus, Weaver of Autistic Webs · Rating 5 out of 5]

HATS OFF to this wonderfully readable, eminently simplifying GR Author!

Do you guys have any Clue of the earthshaking discovery that was made by a multinational team of scientists only a few short years ago?

Hint: they won the Nobel for it!

ANOTHER Hint: this one discovery took a front-end loader to that tiny Newtonian misconception we all used to call Gravity, in one millisecond.

Then DEEP-SIXED it for good.

It’s even Earth-Shakingly COSMIC in its implications!

Give UP?

It was the totally out-of-the-blue corroboration of the LAST of Albert Einstein’s uncorroborated and supposedly Zany Ideas:

Gravity WAVES.

That’s right - Gravity doesn’t just happen like it did to Sir Isaac Newton when the Apple bopped his noggin.

No - it happens when Gravity Waves continuously crisscross outer space as a result of space noise: mega-accidents like the birth, death, and collision of stars.

All of these things are constantly ongoing -

And keep us earthbound in our little woebegone orbit around the sun.

“So there!” says Uncle Albert...’

OK, then, wise Guy:

How do they work, Mr Einstein?

Like ocean waves? Radio waves? Or Mexican Waves at the Super Bowl?

“No, not quite, guys - but take a look at this physicist’s easy walk through the concepts used in this book in the Kindle Excerpts...

"It’s actually a free gift of Quantum Physics for Dummies to all GR readers.

"It’ll make it all Easy for you.”

And, you know what? I, too, before I read it, was a Quantum Physics Dummy - First Class.

But this Goodreads Author came RIGHT down to MY level... for which favour, by the way, many heartfelt thanks to him and his publisher.

He’s a BORN WRITER!

For in the short space of time it took to read him all the lights came on...

And everything now is Easy as Pi.

And for an Easy as Pi Demo, go to:

https://vimeo.com/234429201

[Deepu Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read and understand this complex topic, but give yourself some time to read it and absorb the words it has to say. I wasn’t able to put down it and if i did i was not sure if i should read further cuz it takes whole attention and my brain power to digest it and i keep thinking about this experiment and gravity.
Loved this book

[Michael M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very smooth reading with interesting details, not only with scientific explanations but also abundant information on the history of the LIGO project itself.

Unfortunately there are also some errors. On p. 107, it is stated that the universe became transparent to light at the age of 'a third of a billion years.' This should be roughly a third of a million years instead. - On p. 142, 'a distance of between 50 and 65 million kilometres' is 'about a quarter again the distance at which the moon orbits.' However, the moon only orbits the earth at approximately 385000 km.

My last remark refers to the Michelson-Morley which is mentioned to have been carried out in Cleveland 1887. However, Michelson received a research grant in 1880 to work at Helmholtz's institute in Berlin, and as early as 1881 he already planned and realized an early version of his interferometry experiment in Potsdam. Perhaps this historic fact could have been added.

[Richard Cubitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good. Clearly and concisely explained.

[Remo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Clegg es un autor bastante prolífico que sin embargo no ha descollado como otros grandes de la divulgación (como puedan ser Ian Stewart, Paul Davies y tantos otros).

Esta es mi primera experiencia con el autor y debo decir que es sobreasaliente. No solo cuenta los detalles científicos de LIGO, el primer telescopio de ondas gravitacionales, sino que nos hace un relato de cómo llegó a diseñarse, construirse (y, muy importante, financiarse). Nos pone el instrumento en contexto no solo en el panorama de la investigación cosmológica sino en el panorama de los presupuestos de ciencia de los países del primer mundo. Hay multitud de anécdotas y hay mucho contexto, desde cómo una sugerencia de usar interferómetros de Fabry-Pêrot al inicio multiplicó la sensibilidad del intrumento por al menos un orden de magnitud (el que propuso esto murió pocos meses antes de que les cayera el Nobel a los otros dos cofundadores de LIGO), hasta cómo un intrumento como éste (o una red de ellos) puede ayudarnos a resolver problemas como los agujeros negros primordiales, la existencia o no de singularidades desnudas o la expansión inflacionaria del Universo temprano.
En resumen, un libro que sin ser denso durante su desarrollo tiene un montonazo de información interesante. Voy a seguir buscando a este autor, que cuenta cosas interesantísimas.

[Sena · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book there is very little math, mostly is explanation and interpreted data (considering this dense topic the author did very good job)

I really like the story of the LIGO machine development in this book (the cost to made this machine, the obstacle to get the funding and many more). Brian clegg also provide a short explanation about wave, light, the michelson-morley experiment and particles matter all in 2 chapter.

Overall this book is really good and i recommend it for beginner like me who do not know anything about theoritical physics but i dont recommend this book to a person who majoring in physics because this book is just an introduction to gravitational waves with very little math.

[D.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad little book. If you're looking for in-depth explanation of how gravity waves work you might want to look elsewhere. But if you're interested in the very basic level plus the history behind how they were found then this is a fantastic read. Light, informative and easy to read. It was a pleasure.

[Wali Touseef · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book.A good book for beginners or for someone interested ,but it is more focused on the story rather than the physics .People with a fair amount of physics knowledge may not gain anything but a brief inside story of LIGO and LISA.

[Lewis Rymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book - introduced me to the history of the search for, and subsequent discovery, of gravitational waves. I particularly enjoyed the details of how LIGO was built and the problems they faced in doing so. Not too much scientific jargon to put anyone off but not too simple that someone with some understanding of physics can still get enjoyment out of it.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Gravitational Waves" by Brian Clegg is a captivating and enlightening exploration of one of the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries of the 21st century. In this book, Clegg takes readers on a thrilling journey through the history of gravitational waves, their detection, and the profound impact they have on our understanding of the universe. With his engaging writing style and deep knowledge of the subject matter, Clegg manages to make complex concepts accessible to both science enthusiasts and general readers alike.

Summary:
The book begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the theory of general relativity, which serves as the foundation for understanding gravitational waves. Clegg masterfully explains the concept of spacetime, a four-dimensional framework that curves and bends under the influence of mass and energy. He delves into the life and work of Albert Einstein, the brilliant physicist who revolutionized our understanding of gravity with his theory of general relativity.

Clegg skillfully breaks down the mathematics behind Einstein's equations and the prediction of gravitational waves. He ensures that readers with varying levels of scientific background can grasp the essential concepts without feeling overwhelmed. By using relatable analogies and clear explanations, he makes even the most abstract ideas accessible and engaging.

The author then guides us through the history of gravitational waves, from Einstein's initial prediction in 1916 to the first direct detection in 2015 by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) experiment. Clegg seamlessly weaves together the stories of the key scientists involved in this century-long quest, creating a narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

In addition to discussing the science behind gravitational waves, Clegg explores the implications of this discovery for our understanding of the universe. He introduces readers to black holes and neutron stars, the most extreme objects in the cosmos, and explains how gravitational waves provide us with a unique window into their existence and behavior. The book also delves into the study of the early universe and the Big Bang, showing how gravitational waves offer insights into the cosmic microwave background radiation and the conditions immediately after the birth of our universe.

Strengths:
One of the strengths of "Gravitational Waves" is Brian Clegg's ability to balance scientific rigor with accessibility. He breaks down complex concepts into easily digestible pieces, allowing readers to follow along without feeling overwhelmed. His clear explanations and analogies make the book approachable even for those without a strong background in physics. At the same time, Clegg doesn't shy away from delving into the technical details when necessary, providing a satisfying depth of understanding for more scientifically inclined readers.

The narrative style of the book is another notable strength. Clegg has a talent for storytelling, and he infuses the historical accounts with a sense of excitement and wonder. The personal anecdotes about the scientists involved in the field add a human touch to the scientific endeavor, making the book more relatable and engaging. The narrative flow keeps readers invested in the story, eager to learn about the next breakthrough or challenge faced by the researchers.

Furthermore, Clegg's enthusiasm for the subject matter shines through in every chapter. His passion for gravitational waves is contagious, and readers cannot help but share in his excitement. By presenting the material in an engaging and enthusiastic manner, Clegg successfully conveys the significance of this scientific discovery and its potential impact on our understanding of the universe.

Weaknesses:
While "Gravitational Waves" is an excellent introduction to the topic, some readers may find themselves craving even more technical detail. The book strikes a delicate balance between accessibility and depth, but for readers with a strong scientific background, they may feel that certain sections could have gone into more depth or provided additional mathematical explanations. However, it's worth noting that the book does a commendable job of catering to a wide range of readers, and striking a balance between accessibility and technicality is a difficult task in itself.

Another potential weakness of the book is the occasional repetition of certain concepts. While repetition can be helpful for reinforcing understanding, there are instances where it feels unnecessary and may interrupt the flow of the narrative. This issue, however, is relatively minor and does not detract significantly from the overall quality of the book.

One aspect that could have been expanded upon is the future prospects and implications of gravitational wave research. Clegg briefly touches on some potential applications, such as improved understanding of black holes and the possibility of using gravitational waves as a tool for astronomy. However, a deeper exploration of these topics would have been valuable, as it would have allowed readers to appreciate the long-term impact of this field of study.

Additionally, although the historical accounts and personal anecdotes provide a human element to the story, there are moments when the narrative focus becomes too centered on individual scientists. While their contributions are undoubtedly significant, a more balanced perspective that encompasses the collective efforts of the scientific community would have been beneficial. This would have highlighted the collaborative nature of scientific progress and showcased the contributions of a wider range of researchers.

Despite these minor weaknesses, "Gravitational Waves" remains an outstanding book that offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of a fascinating subject. Clegg's writing style, which seamlessly blends scientific explanations with captivating storytelling, makes the book a joy to read. It successfully captures the excitement and significance of the discovery of gravitational waves, and the implications for our understanding of the universe.

Moreover, the book is well-structured, with each chapter building upon the previous one, gradually deepening the reader's knowledge and appreciation of the topic. Clegg navigates the intricate scientific concepts with finesse, ensuring that readers can follow along and grasp the essential ideas. From the fundamentals of general relativity to the technological advancements of gravitational wave detectors, the author covers the subject matter with clarity and precision.

In conclusion, "Gravitational Waves" by Brian Clegg is a captivating and enlightening book that provides a comprehensive exploration of one of the most significant scientific discoveries of our time. With its accessible yet informative approach, the book appeals to a broad readership, from science enthusiasts to general readers seeking to expand their understanding of the universe. Clegg's engaging writing style, coupled with his ability to convey complex concepts with clarity, makes this book a must-read for anyone intrigued by the wonders of the cosmos and the remarkable achievements of human scientific endeavor.

[Matthew Whyndham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite working in the professional space science community, I don’t actually know that much about GWs, so this was a nice easy report of the state of play (2018). Although aimed at the non-specialist, this tries not to over-simplify. The Hot Science series is “for popular science readers who like to go a little bit deeper”. There’s no General Rel as such (no equations of course), only the results of the physics are introduced. There’s more detail on the sequence of instrumentation leading up to the first few verifiable GW detections. Some of the aspects are just called by name, but not explained : Fabry-Perot cavities for example. It would have been nice to have more of a sense of the progression of technical steps - early instruments seemed to be laid out as failures, whereas presumably they would have been funded and used as proofs of concept, either of construction or operational technique or some other prototype stage. If I’d been editing this, I would have asked for a notch more clarity on the meaning of each successive instrument (maybe a sensitivity plot of all the techniques with the future - LISA - also on there). There wasn’t a great deal of astrophysics - no drawings of collapsing stars or systems that could cause GW emission.


[Santosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like discovery of quantum physics, gravitational wave detection may not be useful in daily life, but it is important to understand the universe. It is useful in future endeavours of human race. A must read.

[Jacob Markrof · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cutting-Edge Science Introduction

I've read two other books by Brian Clegg in the Cutting Edge Science series by Icon Books, Graphene Revolution, and Dark Matter & Dark Energy, respectively. It's a great series for those who have a slight familiarity with the subjects but aren't experts, while still accommodating readers who might have no background in theoretical science at all. The three books I've read seem to follow a pattern; a brief introduction of the subject and theory, a history of its development, and ideas of what the future might hold. What the books do not contain are any hard facts or end results of the studies. But how could they? This is the cutting edge, after all.

Great books if you're looking to be caught up on what the buzz is all about, but don't expect mind-blowing conclusions. Science is a long and never-ending process.

To quote a fake quote by Winston Churchill, quoted in the book, on if there should be a halt in the arts and sciences funding to support the war effort, he said, "Then what are we fighting for?"

If Brian Clegg keeps putting out books, I'll keep on reading them.

[Austra · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In space, not only can no one hear you scream, they can't feel your vibrations either.”

Bet ja nopietni - vēl viena superīga Hot Science sērijas grāmata, šoreiz par gravitācijas viļņiem, sākot no teorijas rašanās, pirmajiem kļūdainajiem eksperimentiem, līdz jaunajām un smalkajām LIGO observatorijām un tam, kāpēc mums vispār ir svarīgi spēt noteikt divu melno caurumu dejas radītos gravitācijas viļņus un ko ar šīm zināšanām iesākt. Visu cieņu autoram, kurš spēj tik rūpīgi un pacietīgi izskaidrot čaiņikiem ne tik vienkāršas lietas. Mazliet apskaužu fiziķus par viņu sajūsmu pret savu darbu.

Latviski par notikumiem var palasīt šeit - https://lr1.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/zinamais...

[Judith Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A science pursuit of a phenomenon story that is exciting if you have any interest at all in physics. There also may be white holes: nothing can get out of a black hole; nothing can get into a white hole. As for black holes, although it was only recently that we found them, the person who first thought of them was born in 1724! Another interesting item is the story of Karl Schwarzschild, who was working on the relevant equations while fighting in the trenches in World War I. The final lines are delightful: "By detecting gravitational waves and pushing back the boundaries of our understanding, we confirm the strength of the human spirit."

[Sherly Septiani · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction to one of the most groundbreaking discoveries in modern physics—the ripples in spacetime predicted by Einstein and finally detected a century later. For those who have read other popular science books on the topic, there may not be much new material here beyond Clegg’s particular way of presenting it.

The book leans more toward history and storytelling rather than deep scientific exploration. While the human stories of the researchers and the journey to discovery are fascinating, those looking for an in-depth breakdown of the physics behind gravitational waves might find this book lacking in technical depth.

[Qukatheg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read about gravitational waves.

This short book includes concise explanations of the underlying science and the technology for detecting them, but not so much that you need a scientific background to understand everything.
Especially it focuses on past, present and future attempts of detecting gravitational waves - inspired by the LIGO observatories' first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015, which was caused by two black holes merging.

So far I'm really loving this Hot Science series. Looking forward to reading the next parts.

[Rawan Arafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish it included more diagrams on the construction of LIGO and the mirrors. Also a more simplified explanation of blackholes and their behaviour would've been nice. Overall, nice book. The part about how difficult it was to reach a conclusion about the readings was especially well explained. I do wish it was regularly revised for updates on the project. I bought the book in 2024 and it seems a bit outdated. Thankfully, the LIGO website is really cool for updates.

[Alfredo J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

واقعا چرا باید به دنبال امواج گرانشی بود؟ :“ شاید این نوع کاوش‌های بنیادین در ماهیت گیتی، کاربردی روزانه در زندگی ما نداشته باشد، اما به یقین مثالی است از چیزی که زندگی انسان را به فراتر از تقلا برای بقاء از نسلی به نسل دیگر می‌برد. با کشف امواج گرانشی و گسترش مرزهای درک ما از گیتی، قدرت روح بشر را اثبات می‌کنیم.”

[Daniele Giacoppo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but far too short. It do not enter to much in the details of the gravitational waves phenomenon but is more the chronicles that brought to the construction of Ligo and his first detection.

[Alyssa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Even though the topic of gravitational waves, theory of relativity, and astrophysics are not the easiest to understand, this book was written in a way that was digestible and made me want to research more.

[Umar Amri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting documentary on how human's toils and struggles in order to prove the existence of gravitational wave. Still a lot of uncertainties on the force but impressively, development of LIGO is a remarkable achievement of men at its best!

[Danial Ahmadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

شاید این نوع کاوش های بنیادین در ماهیت گیتی، کاربردی در زندگی روزمره ما نداشته باشد، اما به یقین مثالی است از چیزی که زندگی انسان را به فراتر از تقلا برای بقاء از نسلی به نسل دیگر می برد.

[Ashwini Abhyankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oops forgot to update as usual.

[Michael Mason-D'Croz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting walk through the history of gravitational wave research.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable! I can’t get enough quantum physics.
I also enjoyed this authors book on Dark Matter and Dark Energy.

[Shashwat Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

not so cool

[Morpheus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, even science is not immune from politics. But note that, gravity is a wave 🌊 And Einstein, if he had more time, will discover more than what he theorized

[Harish Naik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also gives a primer on neutron stars, pulsars, supernovae, black holes, event horizons, and more.

[Mrs J M Sandford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure nerd.