New Books Network Marcus Chown, "A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Came in from the Cold and Took Cosmic Centre Stage" (Apollo, 2025)
Nov 7, 2025
In this discussion, Marcus Chown, a former radio astronomer and science writer, delves into black holes, their evolution from fringe theories to cosmic rulers. He recounts the historical journey of black hole discovery, including the pivotal moment when the first black hole was identified. Chown makes complex concepts accessible, explaining the significance of gravitational waves and supermassive black holes in galaxies. He also explores fundamental mysteries, such as Hawking radiation and the links between black holes and quantum gravity, building an exciting narrative around these cosmic enigmas.
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Origin Story Of The Book
- Marcus Chown traced his fascination with black holes to a 12-year-old meeting where Paul Murdin described Cygnus X-1.
- He then trained as a radio astronomer and later interviewed many discoverers to tell their personal stories.
Black Holes Went From Fringe To Central
- Black holes are regions where gravity prevents even light from escaping, yet they now sit at the center of cosmic structure.
- Chown argues they've moved "in from the cold" from theoretical oddities to essential cosmic actors.
Einstein's Resistance To Singularities
- Einstein disliked black holes because their singularities implied his theory broke down.
- Schwarzschild's early solution showed compressing mass could form a "bottomless pit" that alarmed Einstein.
