Big Think A "metaphysically terrifying” look inside black holes | Janna Levin
Oct 24, 2025
Janna Levin is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College and the author of Black Hole Survival Guide. In this discussion, she explores the paradoxes of black holes, suggesting we reconsider them as 'empty places' instead of dense objects. Levin reveals how black holes may have contributed to the emergence of life and explains the eerie experience of approaching one unknowingly in space. She also delves into the philosophical implications of their existence and the mysteries of time and gravity in their presence.
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Black Holes Are Empty Places
- A black hole is not a dense object but an absence of matter left after collapse.
- Janna Levin emphasizes that the black hole itself is literally empty space with no hard surface.
Orbits Are Curves In Space-Time
- Curved space-time makes objects follow arcs and orbits without forces acting on them.
- Janna Levin uses the International Space Station to illustrate free-fall along space-time curves.
Don't Rely On Late Escapes
- If you approach a black hole unknowingly, you might not notice warning signs until escape is impossible.
- Levin warns that escaping requires enormous energy and you could run out of fuel before realizing the danger.
