Posted: Sun, Aug 27, 2017, 10:16 AM ET (1416 GMT)
Rumors suggest scientists have detected a new kind of gravitational wave. Comments by astronomers in recent days are hinting at the discovery by the LIGO gravitational wave observatory of a gravitational wave event with an "optical counterpart," meaning that the event that created the wave could also been seen at visible wavelengths. This could be the case if the wave was created by the collision of neutron stars, prompting follow-up observations by other telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope. A LIGO spokesman declined to comment on the rumors, saying only that the the observatory would provide a "top-level update" after the current observing run ends Friday.

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