Scientists from the international LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration have released the latest catalogue of gravitational wave detections, adding 161 newly identified signals from colliding black holes and bringing the total number of confirmed events to 390.
The findings, published in the Gravitational Wave Transient Catalogue 5.0 (GWTC-5), mark a significant step forward for gravitational astronomy and provide researchers with an unprecedented dataset for studying some of the most extreme events in the Universe.
The new catalogue includes observations collected between April 2024 and January 2025 by the LIGO detectors in the United States, Virgo in Italy, and KAGRA in Japan.
The growing number of gravitational wave detections is helping scientists improve measurements of black holes, test fundamental laws of physics and refine estimates of how quickly the Universe is expanding.
Among the most important results are evidence for the existence of second-generation black holes, the most precise localisation of a gravitational-wave source ever achieved, and the clearest gravitational-wave signal recorded to date.
Together, these discoveries highlight how rapidly the field has matured since the first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015.
Gravitational wave detection rates continue to rise
The latest release reflects the growing sensitivity of gravitational-wave observatories worldwide.
During recent observing runs, the network has been detecting between three and four events per week, a pace expected to increase as upgrades improve detector performance.
Researchers update the catalogue roughly every six months, following periods of data collection and detector improvements. Each new observing run expands the available dataset, enabling more detailed investigations into the origins and evolution of black holes and neutron stars.
The addition of Virgo observations has been particularly important in improving the accuracy of source localisation.
With more detectors operating simultaneously, astronomers can identify the origins of gravitational-wave events with far greater precision, improving the chances of linking signals to specific galaxies.
Record-breaking black hole merger pinpointed
One of the standout discoveries in the catalogue is an event designated GW240615.
Detected by both LIGO facilities and Virgo, the signal achieved the most accurate sky localisation ever recorded for a gravitational-wave source. Scientists narrowed its origin to an area of just six square degrees of the sky.
The event was produced when two black holes, roughly 26 and 30 times the mass of the Sun, merged more than three billion light-years from Earth.
The unprecedented localisation accuracy could prove valuable for future efforts to identify host galaxies and improve cosmological measurements derived from gravitational wave detections.
Clearest signal enables precision physics
Another landmark observation, GW250114, has been described as the strongest gravitational-wave signal ever observed. The event reached Earth in January 2025 and was generated by the merger of two black holes with masses of approximately 32 and 34 solar masses.
Its exceptional signal-to-noise ratio allowed researchers to conduct some of the most rigorous tests yet of Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
The data also provided further confirmation of theoretical predictions relating to black hole behaviour, including the principle that the total surface area of black hole event horizons increases following a merger.
Scientists were additionally able to analyse the “ringdown” phase of the newly formed black hole with remarkable precision. These vibrations, generated after the merger, offer valuable insights into the structure of space-time under extreme conditions.
Evidence emerges for second-generation black holes
The catalogue also strengthens evidence for the existence of second-generation black holes.
Two events observed in late 2024, known as GW241011 and GW241110, displayed characteristics suggesting that at least one black hole in each system had previously been formed through an earlier black hole merger.
Such objects are thought to originate in dense stellar environments where repeated collisions become more likely. Their identification provides fresh clues about the diverse pathways through which black holes form and evolve.
Analysis of hundreds of gravitational wave detections has also revealed patterns linking black hole mass and spin, suggesting that multiple formation channels may exist across the Universe. Researchers believe these trends are becoming increasingly visible as the catalogue expands.
A growing tool for understanding the Universe
Beyond black hole physics, the latest catalogue is expected to contribute to one of cosmology’s most pressing questions: the rate at which the Universe is expanding.
By combining distance measurements from gravitational-wave signals with improved source localisation, researchers can refine estimates of the Hubble constant and compare them with other methods.
The expanded dataset, coupled with faster analytical tools and more sensitive detectors, is giving scientists a clearer view of the population of compact objects across the cosmos.
As future observing runs generate even more gravitational wave detections, researchers expect increasingly detailed insights into the formation of black holes, neutron stars and the large-scale evolution of the Universe.