Brian Cox: Why black holes could hold the secret to time and space | Full Interview

Aug 7, 2025

Brian Cox, a renowned physicist and author, delves into the mysteries of black holes, challenging our perceptions of time and space. He discusses their potential role in quantum gravity and the information paradox. The conversation touches on the history of black hole theory, the notion of black holes influencing galaxy formation, and even their implications for future technologies like quantum computing. Additionally, Cox explores profound themes like the rarity of intelligent life in the universe and our responsibility to preserve it, providing a thought-provoking perspective on existence.

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INSIGHT

Black Holes Demand Unified Physics

Black holes force us to unify quantum theory and general relativity for a deeper theory of gravity.
They are unique astronomical objects demanding a merger of these two pillars of physics.

INSIGHT

Time's Strange Behavior at Horizon

Event horizons mark the boundary beyond which nothing escapes, even light.
Time appears to stop at the horizon from an outside view but flows normally for a falling observer.

INSIGHT

Black Holes Evaporate by Emission

Hawking radiation causes black holes to emit particles and slowly evaporate.
Black holes are not eternal prisons; they have a finite lifetime and lose energy over time.

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“Could black holes be the key to a quantum theory of gravity, a deeper theory of how reality, of how space and time works?” Black holes are forcing us to rethink everything we know about the very foundations and limits of physics. These mysterious objects challenge our understanding of time, space, and information. In this full interview from 2023, Physicist Brian Cox explains why black holes aren’t just theoretical endpoints, but could lead us to a deeper understanding of reality altogether. What happens to information that falls into a black hole? Can space and time emerge from something more fundamental? And why did Einstein, Hawking, and generations of physicists struggle with the idea that these objects could even exist?

Chapters: 00:00:00 Black holes and the edge of physics 00:01:44 Hawking’s work 00:02:47 Historical roots 00:13:18 The “end of time” inside black holes 00:20:26 The black hole information paradox 00:24:31 Black holes and quantum computing 00:26:04 Supermassive black holes and galaxy formation 00:52:37 Alien life and the Fermi paradox 00:56:10 Rare Earth hypothesis 01:00:30 Von Neumann probes 01:02:13 The Dark Forest Hypothesis 01:06:32 The Great Filter 01:09:09 Earth’s near-destruction 01:10:11 The Great Silence 01:14:38 Preserving intelligence ------------------------------------- About Brian Cox: Brian Cox obtained a first class honors degree in physics from the University of Manchester in 1995 and in 1998 a Ph.D. In High Energy Particle Physics at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg. He is now Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Brian is widely recognized as the foremost communicator for all things scientific, having presented a number of highly acclaimed science programs for the BBC watched by billions internationally including ‘Adventures in Space and Time’ (2021), ‘Universe’ (2021), ‘The Planets’ (2018), ‘Forces of Nature’ (2016), ‘Human Universe’ (2014), ‘Wonders of Life’ (2012), ‘Wonders of the Universe’ (2011) and ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ (2010). As an author, Brian has also sold over a million books worldwide including ‘Black Holes’, ‘Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos’, ‘Quantum Universe’ and ‘Why Does E=mc2?’ with co-author Professor Jeffrey Forshaw. He has set several world records for his sell-out live tours, including his most recent tour Horizons which has taken in venues across the globe.

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