Story perspectives

GWTC-4 Catalog Doubles Gravitational-Wave Discoveries, Unlocks Astrophysical Mysteries

3/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog 4.0 (GWTC-4) catalogs 128 gravitational-wave sources detected by LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA.
GWTC-4 doubles the catalog with new sources from black hole mergers and neutron star collisions.
The dataset enhances understanding of black hole formation and provides tests of Einstein's general relativity.
Researchers say the catalog could unlock astrophysical mysteries and will be detailed in an upcoming edition of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Story summary

The Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog 4.0 (GWTC-4) catalogs 128 gravitational-wave sources detected by LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA.
GWTC-4 doubles the catalog with new sources from black hole mergers and neutron star collisions.
The dataset enhances understanding of black hole formation and provides tests of Einstein's general relativity.
Researchers say the catalog could unlock astrophysical mysteries and will be detailed in an upcoming edition of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.