The superlatives have been flying thick and fast. "Discovery of the century" and "stunning discovery" are among the most common ones.
On Thursday, a "scientific breakthrough" was announced. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory announced that it has detected the existence of gravitational waves, a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916. Gravitational waves are ripples in the curvature of space-time, which is the very fabric of the universe. These waves are actual physical ripples that move away from each other and closer together, thus stretching and squeezing the space they exist in.
The science world has been buzzing since this announcement. Gravitational waves have been making waves on the Internet for the last 24 hours. There have been Facebook likes and re-tweets galore.
But does everyone understand the significance of the discovery? This is complex science after all. Not everyone can be expected to comprehend it. But then it's embarrassing to pretend otherwise. Simply put, it's like pretending to understand and enjoy Christopher Nolan's magnum opi Interstellar and Inception. No amount of explainers and memes can make a difference.
But some were willing to accept defeat. Here's a selection:
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!