Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by certain movements of mass, particularly intense events involving massive objects, such as the collision of black holes, neutron stars, or supernova explosions. They were first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 as part of his general theory of relativity. When massive objects accelerate, they create disturbances that propagate outward at the speed of light. These disturbances are analogous to waves created when a stone is thrown into a pond.
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