Links?exponent137 said:Some new papers...
The 2 second delay at the merger of two neutron stars in August 2017 was a groundbreaking discovery in the field of astrophysics. It provided evidence for the existence of gravitational waves, which were predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity but had never been directly observed before.
The 2 second delay was measured using gravitational wave detectors, specifically the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo detector. These detectors use laser beams to detect tiny changes in the fabric of space-time caused by passing gravitational waves.
The 2 second delay was caused by the collision of two neutron stars, which are incredibly dense objects formed from the collapsed cores of massive stars. As the two neutron stars spiraled towards each other and eventually merged, they released a burst of gravitational waves that took 2 seconds to reach Earth.
The timing of the 2 second delay is important because it provides valuable information about the properties of neutron stars and the nature of gravity. By measuring the delay, scientists can better understand the behavior of these extreme objects and test the accuracy of Einstein's theory of general relativity.
The 2 second delay has opened up a new avenue of research in the study of gravitational waves and neutron stars. It has also sparked interest in the possibility of using neutron star mergers as a "standard candle" for measuring cosmic distances. This discovery has the potential to greatly advance our understanding of the universe and its origins.