Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity completely overturned our understanding of the nature of gravity, space and time.
Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity completely overturned our understanding of the nature of gravity, space and time.
AFP/Getty Images
Scientists had thought the universe would slow down its expansion because of gravity, but a newly discovered phenomenon called dark energy is causing the expansion to speed up.
Scientists had thought the universe would slow down its expansion because of gravity, but a newly discovered phenomenon called dark energy is causing the expansion to speed up.
NASA
Einstein's ideas about gravity have led to predictions of black holes, which occur when the mass of an entire star is compressed into a tiny volume.
Einstein's ideas about gravity have led to predictions of black holes, which occur when the mass of an entire star is compressed into a tiny volume.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
How will the universe end? Will it expand forever or collapse back into a point? With the discovery of dark energy, the answer seems clear -- the universe will expand forever at an ever-increasing rate.
How will the universe end? Will it expand forever or collapse back into a point? With the discovery of dark energy, the answer seems clear -- the universe will expand forever at an ever-increasing rate.
NASA
The Dark Energy Survey experiment is situated high on a mountaintop in Chile. It uses the 4-meter wide Victor Blanco Telescope to image galaxies and supernovae billions of light years away to understand the expansion history of the universe and to predict its future.
The Dark Energy Survey experiment is situated high on a mountaintop in Chile. It uses the 4-meter wide Victor Blanco Telescope to image galaxies and supernovae billions of light years away to understand the expansion history of the universe and to predict its future.
From Fermilab
The camera for the Dark Energy Survey consists of 570 million pixels and is designed to be able to see galaxies located far from the Earth. Astronomers will use data taken over five years to study the shape of the universe and how that shape changes over time.
The camera for the Dark Energy Survey consists of 570 million pixels and is designed to be able to see galaxies located far from the Earth. Astronomers will use data taken over five years to study the shape of the universe and how that shape changes over time.
From Fermilab
The universe is made of three distinct substances. Familiar kinds of matter takes up 4.6%. A mysterious substance called dark matter makes up 24%. And dark energy, which acts like a repulsive form of gravity, accounts for about 71.4%.
The universe is made of three distinct substances. Familiar kinds of matter takes up 4.6%. A mysterious substance called dark matter makes up 24%. And dark energy, which acts like a repulsive form of gravity, accounts for about 71.4%.
NASA
Einstein's theory of relativity reveals that gravity is a bending of space. One of the predictions of the theory is that two closely orbiting astronomical bodies will lose energy by a phenomenon called gravitational waves.
Einstein's theory of relativity reveals that gravity is a bending of space. One of the predictions of the theory is that two closely orbiting astronomical bodies will lose energy by a phenomenon called gravitational waves.
NASA
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory is designed to measure ripples in space called gravitational waves. Along with its sister facility in Louisiana, this detector in Hanford, Washington, can detect a pair of orbiting black holes up to 620 million light years away.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory is designed to measure ripples in space called gravitational waves. Along with its sister facility in Louisiana, this detector in Hanford, Washington, can detect a pair of orbiting black holes up to 620 million light years away.
LIGO Scientific Collaboration
The GPS in modern cars or phones is a practical application of Einstein's ideas. The system relies on a constellation of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth. Without Einstein's theory, in a single day, the system would tell you that you were in a location six miles away from where you actually are.
The GPS in modern cars or phones is a practical application of Einstein's ideas. The system relies on a constellation of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth. Without Einstein's theory, in a single day, the system would tell you that you were in a location six miles away from where you actually are.
NASA