No, your friend's argument is not accurate. Gravitational waves are a well-established phenomenon in physics, and their existence has been confirmed through rigorous scientific observations and experiments.
Gravitational waves were first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 as a consequence of his theory of general relativity. According to this theory, massive objects can create ripples or disturbances in the fabric of spacetime, which propagate as waves at the speed of light. However, it took several decades for technology to advance enough to detect these elusive waves directly.
The first direct detection of gravitational waves occurred in 2015 by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) collaboration. LIGO consists of two large interferometers that are extremely sensitive to minute changes in the lengths of their arms. The detection was based on the observation of gravitational waves produced by the merger of two black holes, resulting in a characteristic pattern of gravitational wave signals.
Since then, LIGO and other gravitational wave observatories around the world have made multiple successful detections of gravitational waves from various sources, including binary black hole mergers, binary neutron star mergers, and even signals from the early universe. These detections have provided strong evidence for the existence of gravitational waves and have opened up a new window to observe and study the universe.
Importantly, the scientific process involves testing hypotheses and theories through observation and experimentation. In the case of gravitational waves, scientists were not merely looking for something to prove. Instead, they developed sophisticated instruments capable of detecting these waves and conducted experiments to observe their effects. The detection of gravitational waves was a result of careful scientific inquiry, data analysis, and collaboration.
Therefore, it is incorrect to dismiss gravitational waves as "rubbish" or claim that scientists were biased in their search. The existence of gravitational waves is supported by robust evidence, and their discovery represents a significant milestone in our understanding of the universe.