New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Heino Falcke and Jörg Römer, "Light in the Darkness: Black Holes, the Universe, and Us" (HarperCollins, 2021)
Jan 9, 2026
Heino Falcke, a leading astrophysicist and the mind behind the first black hole image, shares his journey in capturing this cosmic mystery. He discusses the intricacies and failures inherent in scientific work while exploring how childhood curiosity ignited his fascination with black holes. Falcke reflects on the spiritual implications of astronomy, urging listeners to ponder humanity's connection to the universe. He humorously explains scientific terms and contemplates the potential discovery of extraterrestrial life, intertwining faith and wonder.
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Why He Wrote The Book
- Heino Falcke wrote Light in the Darkness to tell the public the story of astronomy and his personal journey to the first black hole image.
- He aimed to show how real science works, including its messy failures and human side.
Failure Drives Science When Well Designed
- Failure can be the engine of scientific progress when experiments decisively falsify prevailing ideas.
- But Falcke warns that failures must be well-designed and informative to advance science rather than harm careers.
Universal Laws Let Us Study Distant Objects
- Astrophysics works because the same physical laws apply across the universe and on Earth.
- Falcke emphasizes learning plasma physics from the Sun to understand black hole environments.
