Scientists have found a new way to 'hear' black holes colliding

Scientists have discovered a new technique which allows them to "hear" the collision of black holes.

To try and detect events like this, the team were measuring gravitational wave signals using incredibly sensitive instruments.

They then found that by combining signals from other detectors along with precise predictions from the laws of gravity, they could spot cosmic events even when a gravitational wave detector is slightly out of tune.

This method is called astrophysical calibration.

This a process similar to auto-tune used in music production - where software can correct a singer's pitch if it is off key to meet the right note.

The research was carried out by a team from the International Ligo, Virgo and Kagra (LVK) gravitational wave observatory collaboration - a network of scientists who co-ordinate and collaborate on the operation of the detectors and the scientific results.

They made their discovery while tracing signals produced by the collision of two black holes between 35 and 30 times the mass of our sun, about 600 million light-years from Earth.

The team have said that the gravitational-wave signals produced are among the loudest they've ever detected.

It is hoped this could also help researchers in other parts of the world ensure that they produce the most reliable results, even when the circumstances of the detection aren't the best.

The Ligo Scientific Collaboration's spokesperson Professor Stephen Fairhurst, of Cardiff University, said: "It's remarkable that these massive cosmic events can not only be measured by our instruments, but actually used to check our measurements."

He added the team can now "be confident" that the observations they make in the future can help build upon this, and "expand our understanding of the universe".