Taylor and Weisberg: binary-pulsar orbital decay as a test of general relativity

What changed

Gravitational-radiation damping received a demanding astrophysical consistency test.

Scientific scope

Exact two-author 1982 paper; pulsar discovery, later precision updates and direct detection excluded.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact 1982 Astrophysical Journal paper. Hulse and Taylor’s pulsar discovery, later timing updates, direct gravitational-wave detection and other gravity tests remain separate.

Contributors

• Joseph H. Taylor Jr. · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• Joel M. Weisberg · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• Taylor and Weisberg, binary pulsar test of general relativity
• Crossref record for binary-pulsar gravity test

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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