One of the most anticipated discoveries in physics finally happened, as physicists who are working on a powerful observatory announced Thursday that they have direct evidence of ripples in spacetime that was generated by a collision merger of two black holes, confirming Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.

These ripples are known as gravitational waves that can distort the fabric of spacetime, where they have been travelling across space after two massive black holes collided into one another some 1.3 billion years ago. Scientists from LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) have apparently detected them last September 14, 2015 as they have carefully examined their data among their colleagues following an intense peer review process, before making this milestone known to the public.

This exciting finding is certainly a new way to view the universe and its unseen mechanisms as it expands however, with these new potential ways in exploring the cosmos, many are now interested about how gravitational waves can affect our way of seeing the universe, and more importantly, if gravitational waves can bend spacetime, revealing the key to time travel.

Spacetime can be imagined as a fabric that can stretch throughout the expanse of the universe, where matter and other cosmic objects such as stars, black holes and planets can be affected by it. These massive bodies can distort spacetime around them, similar to black holes and their powerful gravitational forces and even gravity on Earth. 

Now, since spacetime can be bended or distorted by objects inside the universe, many of us would like to know or understand if there is some way to manipulate spacetime since gravitational waves are now detected for the first time ever with direct observational evidence.

According to LIGO co-founder Kip Thorne, unfortunately the discovery of gravitational waves is not going to bring humans closer to time travel, adding that Thorne wishes that it would. Thorne is also the executive producer of the film Interstellar that involves travelling through a wormhole in spacetime.

Physicists believe that even if time travel is not yet possible even with the discovery of gravitational waves, this is still a crucial aspect in the field of physics on how scientists can observe cosmic objects with the aid of gravitational waves.

Thorne says that this black hole merger created this violent storm in spacetime, that allows scientists to view this disruption as if this wave passed through Earth's spacetime region. Now, scientists can explore space using gravitational waves and explore further massive objects in distant parts of the cosmos, such as black holes colliding into each other billions of years ago.

Apart from just observing the universe with optical, infrared and ultraviolet light, researchers and physicists can now view the universe with these gravitational waves, that can unravel the mysteries of the universe.