In another milestone discovery, scientists have detected gravitational waves for the second time ever, which are ripples in spacetime that were first predicted by Albert Einstein almost 100 years ago.

This cosmic event occurs from a collision of two black holes and then merging with one another, where they emit powerful energies creating gravitational waves in the process. This colossal cosmic collision produces a singular spinning supermassive black hole that possesses 21 solar masses.

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The first ever detection of gravitational waves was also made this year, just last February 11, which became a breakthrough discovery for both fields of physics and astronomy. This latest detection was announced on Wednesday, which provides crucial confirmation of their existence and more importantly, Einstein's general theory of relativity which creates an entirely new field of science in gravitational wave astronomy, offering new ways in observing the universe.

More importantly, gravitational waves also possess unprecedented information about the very nature of gravity and how it works in the universe.

According to physics and astronomy and astrophysics professor, Chad Hanna of Pennsylvania State University, since we are now able to detect gravitational waves, they can bring a massive amount of new information about the Milky Way galaxy and can also open a new channel for discoveries in the universe.

These waves are detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), which is a gigantic physics observatory solely used to hunt for these elusive gravitational waves. Detectors revealed that these new waves apparently travelled some 1.4 billion years in deep space before they reached Earth late last year.

LIGO has two twin outposts located in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana where the observatories consist of an L-shaped tunnel that stretches for two and half miles.

The presence of gravitational waves are detected when detectors noticed a slight change so minute that that it can even identify a shift of only 1/10,000 of a proton's diameter.

According to Caltech LIGO Laboratory's deputy director, Albert Lazzarini, these two strong detections of gravitational waves in just a span of four months during the first observing run can lead to pivotal predictions about the frequency of these gravitational waves in the future. LIGO is on its way to hearing more gravitational waves, as they are some of the darkest energies emitted by the most powerful cosmic events in the universe.

This new study is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Tagsgravitational waves, second time gravitational waves, Albert Einstein, LIGO, general theory of relativity, Black Holes, Gravity