The Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recently unveiled its Taiji Laboratory in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, local media outlets reported on April 20.

The name comes fromTaiji 1, China's first satellite to conduct experiments on key technologies related to gravitational wave detection. The satellite was launched in 2019 as the first step of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Taiji Project.

Gravitational waves, which are ripples in the space-time fabric resulting from the most violent phenomena in the universe likesupernovae explosions or colliding black holes, were predicted by Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity 100 years ago.

A gravitational wave is like a water wave movingacross the surface of a lake. It is generated only when masses are speeding up, slowing down or changing direction.

"Research on gravitational waves can help us gain knowledge about enigmatic objects like black holes and neutron stars. The waves also may provide insight into the mysterious nature of the very early universe," saidLuo Ziren, deputy director of the newly established laboratory.

"The establishment of the laboratory will attract more brilliant minds to Hangzhou," addedWu Yueliang, chief scientist of the Taiji Project.