Gravitational wave searches - status, and future technology developments

A global network of gravitational wave detectors is in now reaching the final stages of construction, with first data expected in 2015.The information carried by these signals will give us new insight into the hearts of some of the most violent events in the Cosmos – from black holes to the beginning of the Universe.The nature of gravitational waves, how the detectors work and what the data from the detectors can tell us about the Universe we inhabit will be discussed.