University of Glasgow celebrates links to Albert Einstein

Researchers from the School of Physics and Astronomy planted an apple cutting on campus, after it was taken from the famous scientist's summer home.

The fruit was donated by John Hancox, a graduate of the university’s School of Chemistry who runs the social enterprise Scottish Fruit Trees.

The tribute took place on Monday, June 26, which was 90 years since Einstein visited the city and received an honorary degree from the university in recognition of his contribution to physics.

Researchers planted an apple cutting on campus (Image: Sourced)

It comes as he famously predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 as part of his general theory of relativity.

Researchers from the university’s Institute for Gravitational Research (IGR) were part of the international collaboration which discovered the first direct evidence of gravitational waves in 2015, finally confirming his theory a century later.

Glasgow scientists developed the mirror suspension technology at the heart of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) which made the detection possible.

LIGO, the most sensitive scientific equipment ever developed, is capable of detecting the very faint traces of gravitational waves as they pass through the Earth.

The suspensions help hold 40kg mirrors completely still so lasers bounced from their surfaces can measure the tiny displacement the gravitational waves cause – a movement of around 1/10,000th the width of a proton.

Glasgow researchers continue to play key roles in the data processing and analysis which underpins each detection, and will contribute to future upgrades which aim to make the detectors even more sensitive.

The network expects to detect signals from hundreds of new astronomical events during its 18-month run.

Professor Sheila Rowan, director of the Institute for Gravitational Research, said: “Albert Einstein’s theories laid the foundations for much of modern physics, and we’re proud that our predecessors at the University of Glasgow had the opportunity to present him with an honorary degree in recognition of his work.

“A century later, gravitational wave astronomy has given us a whole new way of observing the universe, helping us to detect the previously undetectable, and Glasgow researchers are important parts of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network.

“We’re delighted to be able to plant a tree from Einstein’s garden here at the university today. It’s inspiring to think that a tree from Einstein’s garden will be growing on campus at the same time that our understanding of the universe grows through gravitational wave astronomy.”