Jan 18, 2021 Astrophysicists attempting to detect the presence of low-frequency gravitational waves are on to something, and it could be one of the biggest discoveries in the history of mankind. Gravitational waves illustration, Tonia Klein By collaboration from one side of the Earth to the other, a signal has appeared in the data of a project that uses the rhythm of stars’ movement to detect these truly gargantuan intergalactic waves, and the scientists think it may be proof of the gravitational wave background, a discovery more consequential than anything in recent history. The researchers, hailing from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), are cautious, knowing that both the macro and micro aspects of their data could mislead them.