About 100 years ago when genius physicist Albert Einstein gave theory of general relativity, he had no idea that scientists will one day find direct evidence of gravitational waves' existence. If rumors are believed, scientists will reveal their observation of the elusive waves at the US National Science Foundation.

Einstein theorized the existence of gravitational waves, which are small ripples in space and time that dash across the universe at the speed of light, about a century ago in his ground-breaking general theory of relativity.

During a news conference called by the National Science Foundation, if scientists announce the existence of gravitational waves, it will start a new era in science where secrets of the universe could be revealed in a new way. The discovery could also pave a way for mysterious space objects, such as black holes.

A group of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the California Institute of Technology and LIGO Scientific Collaboration are expected to present current status of hunt for gravitational waves. It is rumored that the team has achieved the target.

Bruce Allen, a researcher from the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Hannover, said a discovery linked to gravitational waves is not less than winning a Nobel Prize.

A find of gravitational waves could change how the universe is observed today, said Abhay Ashtekar, director of Penn State University's Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos. In next 10 years, scientists will have a new way to study the space, Ashtekar added.

"Gravitational waves are literally ripples in the curvature of space-time that are caused by collisions of heavy and compact objects like black holes and neutron stars", as per Ashtekar.