Pulsars help astronomers detect gravitational waves from cosmic inflation

Astronomers are using pulsars to detect gravitational waves from cosmic inflation, a rapid expansion of the early universe. These pulsars act as cosmic clocks, and subtle timing shifts can reveal the passage of long-wavelength gravitational waves. Detecting these waves could provide evidence for cosmic inflation. However, distinguishing these cosmic waves from those produced by supermassive black hole binaries will be a challenge, requiring further data and analysis of gravitational wave "beats."