StarTalk Radio
Cosmic Queries – Stoner Edition with Janna Levin
Feb 14, 2025
Astrophysicist Janna Levin, a professor at Barnard College, dives into the cosmic depths alongside Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Matt Kirshen. They tackle mind-bending questions about black holes and the nature of time. Can you 'surf' gravitational waves? Is time merely a human construct? With humorous insights, they discuss the perplexing interplay of energy and matter. Janna also debunks myths about black holes and shares the emotional journey of studying these cosmic giants, all while keeping it light and accessible.
49:12
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Quick takeaways
- Black holes behave more like a unique 'place' in the universe, challenging our understanding of matter and gravity.
- Time dilation reveals that proximity to massive objects affects aging, demonstrating the complex relationship between gravity and the flow of time.
Deep dives
Understanding Black Holes
Black holes are regions in space where gravity is so intense that nothing, not even light, can escape. The star that forms a black hole collapses in on itself, creating a singularity at its center. This results in an unusual state of matter, leading to the idea that black holes are more akin to a 'place' in the universe rather than a physical object filled with matter. Consequently, the area beyond the event horizon is essentially empty space where the effects of gravity dominate.
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