An off-the-shelf camera could help us find more black holes smashing together
Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, have developed a method to improve LIGO's gravitational-wave detection by using off-the-shelf thermal cameras to correct heat-induced mirror distortions. This low-cost upgrade is expected to significantly extend the observatory's deep-space reach.
Why it matters
This innovation demonstrates how accessible technology can solve complex engineering problems in high-end scientific research, potentially increasing the frequency of black hole merger detections.
Black Holes An off-the-shelf camera could help us find more black holes smashing together News By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 25 July 2026 "It doesn't require any new technology development, which is almost unheard of for solving a LIGO instrumentation problem."
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Click for next article The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is an expert at detecting cosmic collisions. It may soon get even better. (Image credit: ESA) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Fixing a problem inside one of the world's most sophisticated scientific observatories might seem like the kind of challenge that demands a multimillion-dollar upgrade or revolutionary new technology.
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