the theory and prediction of gravitational waves has been around forever. and the work to do experimental detection has been going on for many decades. so the a

the theory and prediction of gravitational waves has been around forever. and the work to do experimental detection has been going on for many decades. so the actual detection was just a sort of check mark that validated many, many years of work. plus, the people involved are getting quite old, and the nobel prize isn't awarded posthumously. for example, ronald drever died earlier this year and could have probably been named instead of barry barish.