Colloquia

On September 14, 2015, the two LIGO detectors simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal, which was named GW150914. The signal fit very precisely the general-relativistic prediction for the inspiral, merger, and ringdown of a pair of stellar-mass black holes, with component masses greater than was thought possible in standard evolution scenarios. This was the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black-hole merger. I describe the mechanics and behind-the-scenes of the detection, and its implications for astrophysics and fundamental physics. Two additional black-hole binaries were detected in LIGO's first observing run, and more are expected from current data taking. At the low-frequency side of the gravitational-wave spectrum, signals from massive black-hole binaries are targeted by the space-based observatory LISA, now on track for launch in the early 2030s, and by pulsar-timing arrays, with a positive detection expected in ten years. I discuss the science case, prospects, and requirements of these programs.

**THE RECEPTION WILL BE HELD AT 3:00PM IN ROOM 313**