Dutch minister Hanke Bruins Slot visits Einstein Telescope
On September 5, the Dutch Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations made a visit to the Province of Limburg. During this she was informed about the Einstein Telescope project.
During the visit, Minister Bruins Slot received a detailed explanation of the Einstein Telescope from provincial quartermaster Guido Derks of the Dutch Province of Limburg. That sensitive instrument for measuring gravity waves may be located underground in the border area of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
In the presence of provincial governor Emile Roemer and deputy Madeleine van Toorenburg, the minister discussed the significance of Einstein Telescope for the host countries and the strategy for arriving at a joint proposal for this world-class observatory. In particular, the conversation highlighted the cross-border approach, in which researchers, government and industry in the intended host countries are working on a joint plan to host Einstein Telescope.
Gravitational waves
The European Einstein Telescope will be an extremely sensitive instrument for measuring and studying gravitational waves. These waves are created during violent collisions in the universe and, according to Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, cause ripples through the universe.
By measuring gravitational waves, scientists aim to learn more about events in the universe that are invisible to ordinary telescopes. They even expect to gain insight into how the universe itself evolves over time under the influence of the still mysterious dark matter and dark energy.
