Did  you hear the one concerning the star that died twice? In 2014, astronomers noticed the explosion of the Refsdal supernova. Then, 360 days later, it went bang once more.

This weird sequence of occasions was right down to a phenomenon referred to as gravitational lensing, by which large objects warp the material of house sufficient to trigger mild to bend. The trail of the flash from the supernova was modified on this method on its journey to us, in order that parts of it took totally different routes and arrived at totally different occasions – nearly a 12 months aside on this excessive case.

As that story exhibits, gravitational lensing has been round for some time, however now it’s about to enter a compelling new chapter. Scientists comprehend it isn’t simply mild that may be lensed, however gravitational waves too. It’s a mind-bending idea: ripples in space-time themselves being distorted by the curvature of house. Additionally it is a deeply vital phenomenon that might illuminate the key interiors of neutron stars, settle a thriller concerning the energy of darkish power and check gravity itself extra keenly than ever. And right here is the very best half: we could also be on the cusp of recognizing our first lensed gravitational wave.

Nobody is below any illusions that this will likely be something apart from fiendishly tough. Nonetheless, there’s a sense it can occur eventually – and there are methods we will pull to expedite the invention. “It’s thrilling, and it’s going to occur,” says Simon Birrer at Stony Brook College in New York. “There’s…