Einstein's theory of relativity does a fantastic job for explaining big things. Quantum mechanics is fantastic for the other end of the spectrum - for small things.

Far from being accidental details, the properties of nature's basic building blocks are deeply entwined with the fabric of space and time.

But if you think about a practical implication of enriching your life and giving you a sense of being part of a larger cosmos and possibly being able to use this [gravitational waves] as a tool in the future maybe to listen not just to black holes colliding, but maybe listen to the big bang itself, those kind of applications may happen in the not too distant future.

When you know the answer you want, it is often all too easy to figure out a way of getting it.

So: if you buy the notion that reality consists of the things in your freeze-frame mental image right now, and if you agree that your now is no more valid than the now of someone located far away in space who can move freely, then reality encompasses all of the events in spacetime.

I can't stand clutter. I can't stand piles of stuff. And whenever I see it, I basically just throw the stuff away.

You should never be surprised by or feel the need to explain why any physical system is in a high entropy state.