1,000 scientists participated in a $1 billion effort that led to the first detection of gravitational waves in September 2015.
Synopsis
1,000 scientists participated in a $1 billion effort that led to the first detection of gravitational waves in September 2015.
People
Synopsis
In September 2015, Les Guthman arrived at the LIGO Livingston Observatory in Louisiana. He documented the moment scientists detected the first gravitational wave, GW150914, after a 50-year search. The film covers the intense months before the discovery was announced in February 2016 and the second significant detection, GW170817, in August 2017. Key figures Rai Weiss, Kip Thorne, and Barry Barish feature prominently, culminating in their Nobel Prize win in 2017. The film won Best Documentary at the 2020 Solaris Film Festival.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- See the historic detection of gravitational waves in 2015.
- Meet the Nobel Prize winners Rai Weiss, Kip Thorne, and Barry Barish.
- Follow LIGO's secret months of confirmation before the announcement.
Did You Know
- The first gravitational wave was detected in September 2015.
- LIGO's discoveries led to a Nobel Prize in Physics awarded in 2017.
- National Geographic named LIGO's detections the top scientific discovery of the decade in December 2019.
- The film won the Best Documentary award at the 2020 Solaris Film Festival.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What significant discovery did LIGO make in September 2015?
LIGO made the first observation of gravitational waves, marking a historic achievement in physics.
Who were the LIGO physicists awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017?
Rai Weiss, Kip Thorne, and Barry Barish received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their contributions to the discovery of gravitational waves.
How many film festivals selected the documentary LIGO?
LIGO was the Official Selection of 22 film festivals.
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