Astrophysicist searches for ripples in space and time in new way

Cosmic quasars may hold the key to unlocking the universe's gravitational secrets. University of Colorado Boulder astrophysicist Jeremy Darling is pioneering a new method to measure the gravitational wave background—ripples in spacetime caused by colliding supermassive black holes.

"There is a lot we can learn from getting these precise measurements of gravitational waves," says Darling. His research focuses on detecting minute movements of quasars, incredibly bright celestial objects, as they're affected by passing waves.

This ambitious project requires measuring motions smaller than a human fingernail growing on the moon, as seen from Earth. While current data isn't precise enough to confirm gravitational wave effects, upcoming observations from the Gaia satellite could provide the breakthrough Darling seeks.

If successful, this research could revolutionize our understanding of galaxy evolution and fundamental gravity, offering a new window into the cosmic dance of our universe.