Gravitational wave experiments and observations are an emerging and rapidly expanding field that will have an enormous impact on almost every aspect of modern astronomy and cosmology, as well as providing means to test ideas in fundamental physics and quantum-gravity phenomenology.

To measure gravitational waves one needs to measure the movement of the space time fabric. The detection of gravitational waves is currently one of the most challenging tasks in experimental physics. After several decades of development, gravitational wave interferometric detectors, such as Virgo and LIGO, are taking data looking for gravitational waves and may make the first ever detection of a gravitational wave. A second generation of interferometers (so-called advanced detectors) will be implemented over the next few years. 

This second generation is expected to reach the sensitivity required for a direct detection of gravitational waves. In particular, considering the predicted detection rate of the gravitational wave signal generated by a binary system of coalescing neutron stars, the sensitivity of the advanced interferometers is expected to guarantee the detection within months to a year at most.

Third-generation observatories will open up the possibility of performing gravitational wave astronomical observations from the Earth.