Gravitational waves detect Einstein correct, reason not to defund NASA

By HANNAH PARKER

We always knew Albert Einstein was a genius- but did we know he would still be predicting the fate of science 100 years later? Those who received the average high school science education would say no, but a group of scientists at the Laser Interferometic Gravitational-Wave Observatory thought differently.

Placing their time and effort into proving Einstein’s century-old Theory of General Relativity, they finally confirmed his theory through the first sound discovery of ripples in space- time. But what does this mean? How is this relevant to us non-science people?

The discovery of gravitational waves means that we live in a galaxy where time and space are intertwined and are capable of stretching and bending. It gives scientists a basis for deeply investigating the wonders of the universe: black holes crashing together, detonating stars, and the beginning fabrication of the universe.

Still does not mean anything to you? How about this, it took scientists this long to prove a theory that was conceived a century ago so imagine all the other theories unproven and not yet conceptualized that could alter our state of reality.

The fact of the matter is there is an abundant amount about the universe that we still have not discovered, which means we do not know the effects it will have on the human race, which effects you.

Even if you are not a science person and the lengthy terminology trips up your general understanding, us non-science people can wrap our heads around the fact that the universe is uncontrollable and full of surprises that we need to figure out if we want to continue living as a human race.

On a less detrimental note, the discovery of gravitational waves set science up to a new speed. It changes the game for all scientists regardless of their field of expertise. Get it now?

Not all of us can be brilliant physicists and astrologists out there discovering gravitational waves, otherwise who would be writing this article, right? But what we all can get out there and do is make sure organizations such as NASA keep their funding.

According to the NASA budget estimates, in 2015 their budget consisted of $17.5 billion, a $200 million decrease from 2014. This year, NASA hopes to increase their budget to $19.3 billion.

When looking at the vast scope of all the organizations and aid facilities that the U.S. budget needs to cover, $19.3 billion going to projects that may or may not work out seems like a huge risk to many Americans that would like to take home their tax money.

But in retrospect, as stated above, funding to space programs is just as, if not equally important as funding to programs such as social security. The universe is tricky, it has got a mind of its own, so the more we know the better off the human race will be now and forever.