New way to detect gravitational waves

Astronomers could be on the verge of detecting gravitational waves using rapidly spinning stars called pulsars for the first time. The waves could show up as tiny variations in the frequency of the radio signals emitted by the stars. The technique could allow astronomers to observe the ripples in space-time caused by distant supermassive black holes that are millions or even billions of times larger than those spotted so far. The International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) collaboration has not yet found conclusive evidence of these gravitational waves, but it has detected a background signal hinting that researchers are progressing in the right direction.