Gravitational wave astronomy is a field of study that detects ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events, such as the collision of two black holes or neutron stars. These waves were first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 as part of his General Theory of Relativity. In 2015, the LIGO observatory made the first direct observation of gravitational waves, confirming Einstein's theory. This breakthrough opened a new way to observe the universe, allowing scientists to study phenomena that are invisible to traditional telescopes, thus enhancing our understanding of the cosmos.