New Books in Science Heino Falcke and Jörg Römer, "Light in the Darkness: Black Holes, the Universe, and Us" (HarperCollins, 2021)
Jan 9, 2026
Heino Falcke, a renowned German professor and co-leader of the Event Horizon Telescope project, shares his remarkable journey to capture the first image of a black hole. He discusses the messy nature of scientific discovery, contemplating the intersections of science and faith. Falcke reflects on the 'Overview Effect' of viewing Earth from space, the universe's mysteries, and how stellar deaths forge the elements of life. He also ponders the implications of extraterrestrial life on religion and the awe inherent in scientific exploration.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Science Advances Through Well-Designed Failure
- Science is not a linear, purely logical march; it is messy and often advances through failure and iteration.
- Heino Falcke emphasizes that well-designed failures can provide crucial new insights and open paradigms.
Universal Laws Tie Earth To Cosmos
- Modern astrophysics rests on the assumption that physical laws on Earth apply across the universe.
- Falcke notes we must combine lab, solar, and astronomical observations to understand cosmic phenomena like black holes.
Kepler Underrated Compared To Galileo
- Falcke argues Kepler's laws were more foundational than Galileo's for celestial mechanics and later physics.
- He says Kepler's work set the course that led to Newton and beyond, yet Kepler is often underappreciated.
