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'LIGO, A Passion for Understanding': Documentary Film Complete Coverage

On Tuesday (April 15), Space.com will help premiere a new 22-minute film that chronicles the people and strange science behind an amazing astronomical tool that uses lasers to search for violent cosmic events trillions of miles from Earth. The new documentary "LIGO, A Passion for Understanding," by filmmaker Kai Staats, follows scientists using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatories (LIGO) to hunt for gravitational waves — ripples in space-time created by cataclysmic events in the cosmos.

Visit SPACE.com on Monday (April 14) for a glimpse behind the scenes of the documentary for filmmakers and scientists, then return here Tuesday at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) to watch "LIGO, A Passion for Understanding."

Latest Story: Project LIGO: How Lasers Could Reveal Glimpses of Gravitational Waves See the technology behind the LIGO gravitational-wave hunting project and how upgrades will help launch a new search in 2015. Scroll down for our full archive on LIGO and its new documentary:

Videos

LIGO, A Passion for Understanding | Indie Film Trailer The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory could be as significant an innovation as the telescope. This story of passionate creative researchers striving to understand the fabric of our Universe premieres Tuesday April 15 at Space.com.

How To See Spacetime Stretch - LIGO When two stars collide or a massive star blows up the fabric of the universe warps and springs back, sending gravitational waves across the cosmos. The wave motion would be very tiny. But to watch it, scientists must build very large instruments.

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Complete coverage

Tuesday, April 15

"LIGO, A Passion for Understanding" Premiere Visit Space.com Tuesday at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) to see the premiere of "LIGO, A Passion for Understanding" by filmmaker Kai Staats.

Monday, April 14

Inside LIGO's Gravitational-Wave Hunt: Scientist Interview A new documentary features the gravitational wave detecting observatory LIGO. One scientist working with the film and scientific instrument is particularly excited about the work being done to hunt for evidence of cataclysmic clashes between objects in the distant cosmos.

Friday, April 11

Project LIGO: How Lasers Could Reveal Glimpses of Gravitational Waves Scientists might catch sight of ripples in space-time produced by two massive objects colliding in violent crashes light-years from Earth, thanks to LIGO.

Tuesday, April 1

Mysteries of Gravitational Waves Star in New LIGO Documentary (Film Trailer) A new movie premiering April 15 documents the science and people behind an amazing astronomical tool designed to catch sight of violent cosmic events trillions of miles from Earth.

Gravitational Wave Search Archive:

Major Discovery: 'Smoking Gun' for Universe's Incredible Big Bang Expansion Found

Freaky Physics: Why the Discovery of Gravitational Waves Should Blow Your Mind

How Space Tech Helped Scientists ID Gravitational Waves from Big Bang Inflation

Cosmic Inflation & Gravitational Waves: Complete Coverage of Major Discovery

Hunt Is On for Gravity Waves in Space-Time

The Hunt for Elusive Gravity Waves Heats Up

Scientists Now Expect to Find Gravitational Waves

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Space.com Staff
Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. We transport our visitors across the solar system and beyond through accessible, comprehensive coverage of the latest news and discoveries. For us, exploring space is as much about the journey as it is the destination.