Watched enough 'PBS Space Time' to not be illiterate, but still a CompSci background so take my physics with a huge grain of salt. ;) Is there some way we coul

Watched enough 'PBS Space Time' to not be illiterate, but still a CompSci background so take my physics with a huge grain of salt. ;) Is there some way we could tell a distinction between a local event and a long range event with a method (for example: an alignment of particles or minerals in rocks in a particular direction)?