#468 – Janna Levin: Black Holes, Wormholes, Aliens, Paradoxes & Extra Dimensions

1033 snips

May 5, 2025

Janna Levin, a theoretical physicist and cosmologist, dives deep into the enigmatic world of black holes and extra dimensions. She shares fascinating insights into the formation of black holes, the interplay of gravity and time, and the mind-bending implications of quantum mechanics. The talk explores the potential for extraterrestrial life in other dimensions and even questions the nature of consciousness. Levin also tackles the complexities of wormholes, dark energy, and gravitational waves, emphasizing the continuous quest for understanding in science.

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INSIGHT

Black Holes as Event Horizons

Black holes are better understood as regions of spacetime marked by an event horizon, not simply super dense matter.
The event horizon separates causally disconnected regions where not even light can escape, making black holes "no thing" rather than an object.

ANECDOTE

Oppenheimer's Overlooked Black Hole Paper

Oppenheimer's 1939 paper predicted black hole formation from heavy star collapse but was overshadowed by World War II's outbreak.
The same physicists worked on nuclear weapons and black hole theory amidst global conflict and tension.

INSIGHT

Falling Into a Black Hole Experience

Crossing a black hole's event horizon from the astronaut's perspective is uneventful; no local signs indicate the boundary.
To external observers, time appears to slow dramatically for the falling astronaut, who seems frozen at the horizon.

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