Summaries of LSC Scientific Publications

We now feature, for each new research article, a summary written for the general public. Simply click on any of the titles for an online version, or on the '[flyer]' links for a downloadable file in PDF format. Translations into several languages are also available for some of these summaries. Where not noted separately, translations can be accessed through the two-letter language acronyms (e.g. 'es' for Spanish) or from the top of the English online versions.

Latest detections
GW190814 (Jun 23, 2020)	The Curious Case of GW190814: The Coalescence of a Stellar-Mass Black Hole and a Mystery Compact Object [flyer] Also in: Blackfoot \| Chinese (traditional) \| Dutch \| French \| German \| Italian \| Japanese \| Polish \| Spanish Supplement: Measuring Cosmic Expansion with Dark Standard Siren GW190814
GW190412 (Apr 20, 2020)	GW190412: The First Observation of an Unequal-Mass Black Hole Merger [flyer] Also in: Bengali \| Blackfoot \| Chinese (traditional) \| Dutch \| French \| German \| Italian \| Japanese \| Marathi \| Nepali \| Polish \| Spanish
GW190425 (Jan 06, 2020)	GW190425: The heaviest binary neutron star system ever seen? [flyer] Also in: Chinese \| French \| German \| Greek \| Hebrew \| Italian \| Japanese \| Spanish
Other recent summaries
Mar 04, 2020	How Gravitational-Wave Alerts during the second Advanced LIGO and Virgo observing run enabled the multi-messenger discovery of GW170817 [flyer]
Mar 02, 2020	Searching for weak gamma-ray bursts paired with gravitational-wave events [flyer]
Jan 08, 2020	Open data from the first and second observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo [flyer]
Dec 20, 2019	An Optically Targeted Search for Gravitational Waves from Core-Collapse Supernovae during O1 and O2 [flyer]
Older detections
O1&O2 catalog (Dec 03, 2018)	Catalog paper summarizing previous and new detections from the first two advanced detector observing runs: GWTC-1: A New Catalog of Gravitational-Wave Detections [flyer] Also in French \| German \| Italian \| Spanish . Companion papers: (also available in some other languages): Binary Black Hole Populations [flyer] [ fr \| de \| es ] Electromagnetic Followup Campaigns Tests of General Relativity with gravitational waves from black hole mergers [flyer] [ de ]
GW170608 (Nov 15, 2017)	Detection paper: GW170608: LIGO's Lightest Black Hole Binary? [flyer] Also in French \| German \| Italian.
GW170817 (Oct 16, 2017)	Detection paper: GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral [flyer] Also in Chinese \| French \| German \| Italian \| Russian \| Spanish. Companion papers (also available in some other languages): The Dawn of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics: Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger [flyer] [ cn \| fr \| de \| it \| es ] Gravitational waves and Gamma-Rays from a Binary Neutron Star Merger: GW170817 and GRB 170817A [flyer] [ fr \| de \| it ] Measuring the Expansion of the Universe with Gravitational Waves [flyer] [ fr \| de \| es ] Predicting the aftermath of the neutron star collision that produced GW170817 [flyer] [ fr \| de \| it ] Searching for the Neutron Star or Black Hole Resulting from GW170817 [flyer] [ de ] Another long hard look for the remnant of GW170817 [flyer] [ de ] Making GW170817: neutron stars, supernovae and trick shots [flyer] [ fr \| de ] The background symphony of gravitational waves from neutron star and black hole mergers [flyer] [ fr \| de ] GW170817: How Big are Neutron Stars? [ flyer ] Testing General Relativity in the Presence of Matter Using gravitational wave observations to learn about ultra-dense matter [ flyer ] [ de ]
GW170814 (Sep 27, 2017)	Detection paper: GW170814: A three-detector observation of gravitational waves from a binary black hole coalescence [flyer] Also in French \| German \| Italian \| Polish \| Spanish.
GW170104 (Jun 1, 2017)	Detection paper: GW170104: Observation of a 50 Solar-mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence at Redshift 0.2 [flyer] Also in Chinese \| French \| German \| Italian \| Polish \| Spanish.
GW151226 (Jun 15, 2016)	Detection paper: GW151226: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a 22 Solar-mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence [flyer] Also in French \| German \| Italian \| Spanish
GW150914 (Feb 11, 2016)	Detection paper: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger [flyer] Also in Chinese \| French \| German \| Italian \| Japanese \| Spanish. Companion papers (also available in some other languages): Background of gravitational waves expected from binary black hole events like GW150914 [flyer] [ de \| es ] Calibration of the Advanced LIGO detectors for the discovery of the binary black-hole merger GW150914 [flyer] [ de \| es ] Checking the accuracy of models of gravitational waves for the first measurement of a black hole merger [flyer] [ de ] Directly comparing the first observed gravitational waves to supercomputer solutions of Einstein's theory [flyer] [ de ] GW150914: The Advanced LIGO Detectors in the Era of First Discoveries [flyer] [ de ] How do we know GW150914 was real? Vetting a gravitational wave signal of astrophysical origin [flyer] [ de \| es ] How We Searched For Merging Black Holes And Found GW150914 [flyer] [ de ] Search for Neutrinos from Merging Black Holes [flyer] [ de \| es ] The first measurement of a black hole merger and what it means [flyer] [ de \| it \| es ] Was Einstein right about strong gravity? Using gravitational waves from merging black holes to test General Relativity [flyer] [ de \| es ]
Other publications
2019
Nov 29, 2019	Search for Eccentric Binary Black Hole Mergers [flyer] [ de ]
Nov 29, 2019	Constraining the p-mode - g-mode tidal instability with GW170817 [flyer] [ de ]
Oct 14, 2019	In Pursuit of a Multi-Messenger Mystery: Gravitational Waves from Gamma-Ray Bursts in LIGO's Second Observing Run [flyer] [ de ]
Oct 14, 2019	A search for sub-solar mass black holes [flyer] [ de ]
Oct 14, 2019	Testing General Relativity in the Presence of Matter [flyer] [ de ]
Aug 30, 2019	A guide to LIGO-Virgo detector noise and extraction of transient gravitational-wave signals [flyer] [ fr \| de \| it ]
Aug 19, 2019	Hunting for gravitational waves from known pulsars relaxing the spin assumption with LIGO O2 data [flyer] [ de ]
Aug 12, 2019	Using gravitational wave observations to learn about ultra-dense matter [flyer] [ de ]
Aug 07, 2019	Digging deeper into the data for the youngest neutron stars in the galaxy [flyer] [ de ]
Jul 12, 2019	All-sky search for short-duration gravitational wave transients in the second Advanced LIGO observing run [flyer] [ de ]
Jun 21, 2019	Search for intermediate mass black hole binaries in the first and second observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo network [flyer] [ de ]
May 28, 2019	All-sky search for continuous gravitational waves from isolated neutron stars using Advanced LIGO O2 data [flyer] [ de ]
May 28, 2019	Searching for persistent gravitational waves with Advanced LIGO data from the second observing run [flyer] [ de ]
May 28, 2019	Searching for continuous gravitational waves from pulsars at two frequencies [flyer] [ de ]
Apr 01, 2019	All-sky search for long-duration gravitational wave transients in the second Advanced LIGO observing run [flyer] [ de ]
Mar 12, 2019	Tests of General Relativity with gravitational waves from black hole mergers [flyer] [ de ]
Mar 08, 2019	Searching for a Gravitational Wave Background During Advanced LIGO's Second Observing Run [flyer] [ de ]
Mar 08, 2019	Searching for Gravitational Waves from Magnetars [flyer] [ de ]
2018
Nov 09, 2018	All-sky search for long-duration gravitational wave transients in the first Advanced LIGO observing run [flyer]
Oct 30, 2018	A search for sub-solar mass black holes [flyer]
Oct 30, 2018	Searching for Gravitational Waves From Cosmic Strings [flyer]
Jun 4, 2018	Looking for "Forbidden" Polarizations in the Gravitational-wave Background with Advanced LIGO [flyer]
Jun 4, 2018	First Search for Continuous Gravitational Waves beyond General Relativity [flyer]
Jun 4, 2018	Hunting for Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars within a Narrow Range of Candidate Frequencies [flyer]
Jun 4, 2018	All-sky Search for High-frequency Continuous Gravitational Waves in the First Advanced LIGO Observing Run [flyer]
Mar 16, 2018	A Bright Today and Brighter Tomorrow: Prospects for Gravitational-wave Astronomy With Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo, and KAGRA [flyer]
Mar 5, 2018	Hunting Low-Frequency Continuous Gravitational Waves With the Einstein@Home Distributed Computing System [flyer]
Mar 5, 2018	Searching the Entire Sky for Continuous Gravitational Waves from Rapidly Rotating Neutron Stars in Advanced LIGO Data [flyer]
Mar 5, 2018	Searching for Gravitational Waves from a Nearby Globular Cluster [flyer]
Mar 5, 2018	All-sky Search for Continuous Gravitational Waves With the Einstein@Home Distributed Computing System [flyer]
2017
Jun 18, 2017	A Sensitive Search for Continuous Gravitational Waves from Scorpius X-1 with Advanced LIGO [flyer]
Jun 1, 2017	Search for Mergers of Intermediate-mass Black Holes [flyer]
May 22, 2017	Search for Core-collapse Supernovae in Initial LIGO and Virgo Data [flyer]
May 1, 2017	Searching for Continuous Gravitational-wave Signals: Casting a Wide and Fine Net [flyer]
Apr 12, 2017	Searching for a Wandering Continuous Wave Signal from Scorpius X-1 [flyer]
Feb 3, 2017	Searching for Continuous Gravitational Waves from Pulsars [flyer] [es]
2016
Dec 13, 2016	Mapping the Gravitational Wave Sky [flyer]
Dec 13, 2016	Listening for the Background of Gravitational Waves with Advanced LIGO [flyer]
Nov 29, 2016	What's Behind the Mysterious Gamma-ray Bursts? LIGO's Search for Clues to Their Origins [flyer]
Jun 21, 2016	Searching for Gravitational Wave Bursts in Coincidence with Short Duration Radio Bursts [flyer]
Apr 20, 2016	The Sensitivity of the Advanced LIGO Detectors at the Beginning of Gravitational Wave Astronomy [flyer] [es]
2015
Dec 23, 2015	Planning for a Bright Tomorrow: Prospects for Gravitational-wave Astronomy with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo [flyer] [es]
Nov 24, 2015	Stuck in the Middle: An All-Sky Search for Gravitational Waves of Intermediate Duration [flyer]
Oct 14, 2015	First Search for Low Frequency Continuous Gravitational Waves Emitted by Unseen Neutron Stars [flyer]
Oct 14, 2015	Scouting Our Galactic Neighborhood [flyer]
2014
Dec 22, 2014	Searching for the Youngest Neutron Stars in the Galaxy [flyer]
Dec 8, 2014	Combing Initial LIGO Data for the Potentially Strong Continuous Wave Emitter Scorpius X-1 [flyer]
Oct 31, 2014	An Extended Search for Gravitational Waves from the Crab and Vela Pulsars [flyer]
Oct 31, 2014	Search for a Gravitational-wave Background Using Co-located LIGO Detectors [flyer]
Oct 30, 2014	Cleaning Up LIGO Data [flyer]
Jul 7, 2014	Capturing Invisible Cosmic Explosions [flyer] [es]
Jun 25, 2014	Searching for a Background Buzz of Gravitational Waves [flyer]
Jun 4, 2014	Searching for the Continuous Sounds of Unknown Neutron Stars in Binary Systems [flyer]
May 15, 2014	Leveraging the GEO600 Detector to Search for Gravitational Waves from Gamma-ray Bursts [flyer] [es]
Apr 15, 2014	Searching for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-ray Bursts Detected by the InterPlanetary Network [flyer] [es]
Apr 09, 2014	Observing the Invisible Collisions of Intermediate Mass Black Holes [flyer] [es]
Mar 26, 2014	Ringing of the Cosmic Bells: A Search for Black Hole Vibrations [flyer] [es]
Feb 24, 2014	All-sky Search for Continuous Gravitational Waves in the Virgo Data [flyer] [es]
Jan 16, 2014	Can we Hear Black Holes Collide? Testing Our Search Methods using Numerically Generated Gravitational-wave Signals [flyer] [es]
2013
Nov 14, 2013	Do Cosmic Strings Exist? [flyer] [es]
Nov 14, 2013	Searching for Continuous Gravitational Wave Signals with the Hough Transform [flyer] [es]
Oct 16, 2013	Scanning the Skies for Cosmic Explosions: First Search for Optical Counterparts to Gravitational Waves [flyer] [es]
Oct 04, 2013	A Search for Long-lived Gravitational Waves Associated with Long Gamma-ray Bursts [flyer] [es]
Sep 26, 2013	How High Are Pulsar "Mountains"? [flyer] [es]
Sep 26, 2013	Listening for the Hum of Neutron Stars in the Center of Our Galaxy [flyer] [es]
Aug 02, 2013	The Quantum Enhanced LIGO Detector Sets New Sensitivity Record [flyer] [es]
Apr 05, 2013	What Gravitational Waves Can Tell Us About Colliding Stars and Black Holes [flyer] [es]
2012
Oct 01, 2012	Dance of the Dead Stars: A Search for Massive Binary Black Hole Coalescences [flyer]
Aug 03, 2012	Hunting Continuous Gravitational Waves with the Einstein@Home Distributed Computing System [flyer]
May 15, 2012	New Cosmic Messengers: First Joint Search for Gravitational Waves and High Energy Neutrinos [flyer]
May 11, 2012	A Search for Gravitational Waves from Gamma-Ray Bursts [flyer]
May 08, 2012	X-Rays and Gravitational Waves: LIGO and Virgo Point the Way for the Swift Satellite [flyer]
Apr 02, 2012	Virgo Data Characterization and Impact on Gravitational Wave Searches [flyer]
Mar 14, 2012	Sensitivity of LIGO and Virgo Gravitational Wave Detectors to Compact Binary Inspirals [flyer]
Feb 15, 2012	Listening for Gravitational Waves with "Ears Wide Open" [flyer]
Feb 06, 2012	Optical, X-ray, and Radio Telescopes Seek Explosive Sources of Gravitational Waves [flyer]
Jan 31, 2012	Search for Gravitational Waves from Intermediate Mass Binary Black Holes [flyer]
Jan 23, 2012	Implications for the Origin of GRB 051103 from LIGO Observations [flyer]
Jan 11, 2012	First Low-Latency LIGO+Virgo Search for Binary Inspirals and their Electromagnetic Counterparts [flyer]
Jan 03, 2012	Directional Limits on Persistent Gravitational Waves Using LIGO S5 Science Data [flyer]
2011
Dec 21, 2011	Upper Limits on a Stochastic GW Background Using LIGO and Virgo Interferometers at 600-1000 Hz [flyer]
Dec 01, 2011	A Search for Gravitational Waves from Inspiraling Neutron Stars and Black Holes [flyer]
Sep 11, 2011	A Gravitational Wave Observatory Operating Beyond the Quantum Shot-noise Limit [flyer]

Looking down a detector arm

Visitors at LIGO Hanford Observatory gaze down the site's X arm. Half of the 4-kilometer length of the arm is visible in the photo. (Credit: LIGO Laboratory)

Summaries of LSC Scientific Publications

Latest detections

Other recent summaries

Older detections

Other publications

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Looking down a detector arm