For many years, astronomers have only been able to study the universe by using the light that comes from stars, planets, and galaxies. Telescopes enabled us to observe distant celestial objects, but we relied solely on the use of visible light to learn about the cosmos. This changed with the detection of gravitational waves in 2015, providing an entirely different method of studying the universe.

Gravitational waves are tiny distortions in space and time produced during high-energy events such as the merging of two black holes or the collision of neutron stars. In 1916, Gravitational waves were first proposed by Albert Einstein when he published his general relativity theory, and scientists were unable to detect them until LIGO's successful detection in 2015.

In contrast to past astronomy practices that primarily focused on visual observations, gravitational wave astronomy expands the capabilities of scientific investigation into the properties of the universe. Specifically, the gravitational wave detection of black holes is especially significant because they are invisible to telescopes and therefore had no way to be studied prior to the advent of LIGO's technology. Additionally, the detection of gravitational waves increases our understanding of the nature of black holes and how they form and interact.

The historical significance of gravitational wave detection is profound in that it confirmed Einstein's theories and provided an increased understanding of time, space, and gravity. Currently, astronomers now apply both optical and gravitational wave methods of studying celestial objects, thus giving a much clearer picture of how celestial bodies are formed and interact with one another.