Janna Levin is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College and director of the Science Studios at Pioneer Works. She dives into the captivating world of black holes, discussing their theoretical origins and the misconceptions surrounding them. Learn how they form and their significance in the universe, including their role in the potential fate of the cosmos. Levin also highlights the importance of collaboration in scientific discovery and explains why black holes are crucial to our understanding of gravity and the very fabric of space-time.
Janna Levin discusses the historical journey of black hole discovery, emphasizing Robert Oppenheimer's influential yet overlooked contributions in the 1930s.
The podcast contrasts philosophical inquiries with physics, highlighting how the speaker transitioned from metaphysical debates to scientific investigation under David Albert's influence.
Levin explains the formation of black holes from the gravitational collapse of massive stars, illustrating their complex structures and event horizons.
The discussion covers the significance of supermassive black holes in galaxies, detailing their impact on galactic evolution and the emission of energy through quasars.
Deep dives
Accelerated Career Advancement Through Harvard Programs
Harvard offers a professional and executive development program that can significantly enhance leadership skills and business strategies in just two days. Participants engage in transformative experiences that foster networking opportunities, allowing them to progress their careers effectively. The program culminates in earning a certificate, enabling graduates to proudly include Harvard on their resumes. This structured approach to professional development emphasizes not just personal growth, but also the practical application of learned skills in the business environment.
Historical Insights on the Acceptance of Black Holes
The journey toward recognizing black holes as actual astrophysical phenomena traces back to a pivotal 1939 paper by physicist Robert Oppenheimer, which posited that black holes represent the end state of massive stars. Despite the significance of this theory, it fell largely unnoticed due to the looming backdrop of World War II. Oppenheimer, while instrumental in advancing the theory, was never fully credited for his contributions, as the tumult of the era overshadowed his work. It wasn't until years later that the term 'black hole' gained traction, cementing these celestial objects' status in the scientific community.
Nurturing a Passion for Physics and Philosophy
The discussion explores the speaker's academic journey that transitioned from philosophy to physics, highlighting the profound influence of philosopher David Albert. Frustration with the subjective debates in philosophy led to a pivot toward the more concrete and universal realm of physics, where definitive answers about nature's laws could be shared and understood. This shift underscored the synergy between physics and philosophy, enabling deeper explorations of free will and causality through the lens of scientific inquiry. The speaker expresses an ongoing interest in philosophical questions, acknowledging their inevitable overlap with scientific pursuits.
Understanding Black Holes: Their Formation and Characteristics
Black holes emerge from the gravitational collapse of stars, particularly at the conclusion of their life cycles. When a massive star exhausts its thermonuclear fuel, it succumbs to gravitational forces, potentially transitioning into a neutron star or collapsing into a black hole if it exceeds a critical mass. The folding of space-time surrounding a black hole is a defining characteristic, where not even light can escape, leading to the event horizon. This structure and the concept of singularity challenge traditional understandings of physics, provoking ongoing exploration into their fundamental nature.
The Role of Black Holes in Galactic Evolution
Supermassive black holes, typically found at the centers of galaxies, play a crucial role in shaping their evolution. These entities can power quasars, emitting energy and controlling the growth of their host galaxies by expelling matter through energetic jets. As galaxies evolve, the presence of these black holes affects their development and structure, influencing how they accumulate mass and interact with neighboring systems. Future research aims to further understand the mechanisms and impacts of supermassive black holes in galactic dynamics.
Gravitational Waves and Black Holes: Understanding the Universe
Gravitational waves arise from the acceleration of massive light sources, such as merging black holes, producing ripples in space-time detected by advanced observatories like LIGO. The Nanograv collaboration shares efforts to study the faint gravitational wave background produced by supermassive black holes, utilizing pulsar timing to analyze disturbances caused by these massive entities. Their ongoing research aims to uncover information about the electromagnetic environment of the universe, shedding light on the dynamics of black hole interactions. The interplay between established phenomena, such as gravitational waves and their cosmic implications, continues to drive deep scientific inquiry.
End of the Universe: Role of Black Holes and Hawking Radiation
Hawking radiation is a groundbreaking prediction that suggests black holes gradually emit radiation due to quantum fluctuations near their event horizons, leading to their eventual evaporation. This process posits that black holes, while considered indestructible, can emit energy and lose mass over time, challenging the notion of permanence within the universe. The ultimate fate of the universe hinges on the behavior of dark energy, which could lead to scenarios wherein black holes evaporate in a desolate cosmic landscape. Understanding Hawking radiation and black hole dynamics is essential for painting a complete picture of the universe's eventual fate.
Pioneer Works: A Hub for Art and Science
Pioneer Works fosters a vibrant cultural ecosystem, merging art and science through various programs and artist residencies. Located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, this innovative space hosts numerous events, lectures, and exhibitions that engage the community and encourage intellectual exchange. By blending disciplines, Pioneer Works explores complex questions and pushes the boundaries of conventional thinking, nurturing connections between diverse fields. The commitment to promoting public engagement with science and art makes it a significant contributor to New York City's cultural landscape.
Janna Levin is the Claire Tow Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. She is also the Chair and Founding Director of the Science Studios at Pioneer Works. In this episode, Robinson and Janna talk all about black holes and how to survive them. More particularly, they discuss how black holes were discovered both theoretically and empirically, common misconceptions about black holes, their role in theories of quantum gravity, and how they do and will contribute to both the life and death of the universe. If you’d like to learn more about black holes, read Janna’s latest book, Black Hole Survival Guide (Anchor, 2022).
Janna’s Website: https://jannalevin.com
Black Hole Survival Guide: https://a.co/d/biGGqZc
Pioneer Works: https://pioneerworks.org
OUTLINE
00:00 Introduction
06:10 The Original Theory of Black Holes
14:45 Is There Gravity in Space?
20:40 Just What IS a Black Hole?
38:47 Why Physicists Resisted the Possibility of Black Holes
50:44 What’s at the Center of a Black Hole?
55:34 What Happens When Something Falls into a Black Hole?
1:03:23 Is Leonard Susskind a Genius Physicist?
1:12:07 What Is the Fine-Tuning Problem?
1:17:52 How Close Can You Get to a Black Hole and Still Survive?
1:25:10 Why Are Black Holes Perfect Objects?
1:32:12 How Do Black Holes Form?
1:41:31 What Will Happen to the Sun When It Dies?
1:50:38 Black Holes, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe
1:54:45 The Heat Death of the Universe
1:59:18 Pioneer Works
Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com
Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University.
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