In a distant galaxy, a pair of black holes spiraled towards each other and ultimately merged, creating a shockwave that traversed the cosmos. These gravitational waves journeyed over a billion years to reach us, and on September 14, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) captured this monumental event, marking humanity’s first detection of such a merger.

Originally, expectations were set that LIGO might capture only a handful of such events. However, as we approach the 10th anniversary of this initial discovery, over 300 gravitational wave occurrences have been recorded, revealing unexpected varieties of black holes. Most recently, on July 14, LIGO researchers reported detecting the largest black hole merger yet.

The field of gravitational-wave astronomy has rapidly expanded into a worldwide effort. Led by LIGO’s two advanced detectors in the United States and supported by international collaborations with facilities in Italy (Virgo) and Japan (KAGRA), this discipline has become a hub of abundant data and profound discoveries in astrophysics. It challenges our understanding of general relativity, provides metrics for the universe’s expansion, and redefines our theories on stellar evolution.

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LIGO’s impact extends beyond astronomy into the realm of technology, influencing advancements in quantum technologies that enhance detector sensitivity by reducing noise. These improvements have significant implications for microelectronics and quantum computing.

It’s no surprise then that LIGO’s founders were honored with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017 for their groundbreaking work.

Despite these successes, the field faces significant challenges. The Trump administration has proposed severe cuts to the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget, threatening to slash funding by more than half and potentially forcing the shutdown of one of LIGO’s detectors. Given that the development and upgrade of these detectors have already cost about $1.4 billion, cutting off one would be a tremendous loss. Although a U.S. Senate committee recently opposed these drastic measures, the threat remains with Congress yielding to budget cut pressures.

The proposed cuts to LIGO’s operational budget would decrease funding by 40 percent from 2024, seriously undermining the project’s capabilities. With only one detector, we would capture merely 10 to 20 percent of the gravitational events detectable with two. Consequently, the U.S. risks losing its leadership in this revolutionary scientific field. Reducing our capabilities now would be akin to discarding the microscope shortly after its invention, without fully exploring its potential.

The severe reduction in detection capabilities is not just about numbers; it affects the quality of scientific inquiry. With only one detector, the range of detectable events dramatically decreases, and distinguishing genuine signals from noise becomes far more difficult. This limitation means missing out on significant astronomical events, like the one recently announced.

Additionally, losing one detector complicates efforts to pinpoint the location of gravitational-wave sources, which is crucial for follow-up observations with traditional telescopes. This triangulation was vital during the first observed merger of binary neutron stars, leading to numerous subsequent discoveries and insights, including the role of such mergers in producing gold.

Beyond the immediate impacts on LIGO, the proposed budget cuts also threaten U.S. involvement in international projects like the space-based gravitational-wave mission LISA, and could lead to the cancellation of the next-generation detector, Cosmic Explorer. This retreat from the global stage could see Europe and China taking the lead with ambitious projects like the Einstein Telescope and TianQin, potentially causing a significant brain drain from the U.S.

The future discoveries in gravitational-wave astronomy are unpredictable; just as no one could foresee the Internet emerging from the discovery of radio waves by Heinrich Hertz in 1887. Cutting funding for fundamental science not only impacts immediate research but also erodes the bedrock of innovation that drives long-term progress and economic growth.

Gravitational-wave detection is a revolutionary breakthrough, akin to the discovery of x-rays or radio waves, but even more profound because it originates from an entirely different fundamental force. It’s as if we’ve gained a new sense to perceive the universe—not just to see, but to hear its dynamics. To cease this exploration now would be an irrevocable mistake.

This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Scientific American.