As expected, LIGO was recognized by the Nobel Prize in physics this year. The LIGO experiment is an enormous undertaking that combines elegant, simple theoretical ideas; incredible engineering and experimental capabilities; and technically virtuosic numerical theoretical calculations and data analysis techniques. It's truly a triumph.
I did think it was interesting when Natalie Wolchover, one of the top science writers out there today, tweeted: Thrilled they won, thrilled not to spend this morning speed-reading about some bizarre condensed matter phenomenon.
This sentiment was seconded by Peter Woit, who said he thought she spoke for all science journalists.
Friendly kidding aside, I do want to help. Somehow it's viewed as comparatively easy and simple to write about this, or this, or this, but condensed matter is considered "bizarre".