The Life Scientific

Paul Murdin on the first ever identification of a black hole

Sep 12, 2023

Paul Murdin, astronomer who identified the first black hole, discusses the role of imagination in science and his journey of discovery. He overcomes his disability through curiosity and vibrant imagination. Topics include the significance of X-rays in unraveling celestial mysteries, the speaker's battle with polio, and the measurement of Doppler shift leading to black hole discovery.

32:13

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Episode guests

Paul Murdin

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Quick takeaways

Imagination is crucial in astronomy for interpreting the nature of celestial occurrences and making successful discoveries.

Paul Murdin's physical disability did not hinder his achievements in astronomy, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and a vibrant imagination in overcoming obstacles.

Deep dives

Paul Murden discovers the first black hole, Cygnus X-1

Paul Murden, an astronomer, identified a black hole called Cygnus X-1 during his career at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, working with advanced telescopes. Finding a peculiarity in stars emitting X-rays led to the discovery, as X-rays are different from normal star activity. Imagination is crucial in interpreting the nature of stars and creating a bigger picture of what is happening, allowing for successful discoveries. Despite physical limitations, Murden's love of reading and imagination developed during his childhood hospital stays, and his disability did not hinder his achievements in astronomy.

Introduction

2min

Discovering Peculiarities Among Stars and the Role of Imagination

2min

A Childhood Battle with Polio and the Power of Books

2min

From School to Astronomy

7min

Measurement of Doppler Shift and Inference of Black Hole

3min

The Discovery of Black Holes

16min

Astronomer Paul Murdin believes a good imagination is vital for scientists, since they're so often dealing with subjects outside the visible realm.

Indeed, over a long and successful career his imagination has taken him on a journey through space, discovering various new and unusual celestial occurrences - notably the first successful identification of a black hole, Cygnus X-1.

Paul tells Jim Al-Khalili how he spent much of his career at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, working with astronomers around the world on some of the most advanced telescopes ever built. He headed up the Astronomy section of the UK’s Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, was Director of Science for the British National Space Centre and even has an asteroid named after him.

This list of achievements is testament to the fact that Paul has never let his disability hold him back; a leg brace and walking sticks have been part of his life since contracting polio in childhood. But he maintains that as long as you have curiosity and a vibrant imagination, nothing should stand in your way.

Produced by Lucy Taylor.

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The Life Scientific

Paul Murdin on the first ever identification of a black hole

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Paul Murden discovers the first black hole, Cygnus X-1

The identification of black holes and SS-433

Murden's contributions to astronomy and science communication

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts