Richland, WA

In 1992, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was built near Hanford Site to detect gravitational wave vibrations from outer space. Its instruments, called interferometers, have arms that stretch to about 2.5 miles (4 km) long. The instruments are very sensitive to local vibrations like those from human activity. LIGO selected the Hanford area for one of its two interferometers because Hanford is still relatively isolated from a lot of human activity. The Hanford area also has the required space for the massive scientific project. Scientists use the instruments to help study major stellar events like the collision of black holes.

LIGO is a modern example of Hanford’s history of high-technology research and scientific discovery that dates to the Manhattan Project and the construction of the B Reactor. The Tri-Cities community is known for scientific and technical innovation, especially in the field of physics.