A 'metaphysically terrifying” look inside black holes | Janna Levin

One day we might fall into a black hole. Here’s what we can expect, according to physicist Janna Levin.

This interview is an episode from @The-Well, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the @JohnTempletonFoundation.

Black holes should be thought of as "empty places" rather than "dense objects." While they are indeed formed from incredibly dense objects (collapsed stars), the black hole itself is nothing.

Black holes could have played a crucial role in the emergence of life. Ironically, the Solar System is in orbit around a supermassive black hole located in the center of our Milky Way galaxy. And one day, we might fall into a black hole.

If you were out in space exploring and you didn't realize you were coming upon a black hole, you would not notice that anything terrible was about to happen. Eventually, however, you would succumb to a terrifying fate.

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About Janna Levin:
Janna Levin is a professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. She is also director of sciences at Pioneer Works, a center for arts and sciences in Brooklyn, and has contributed to an understanding of black holes, the cosmology of extra dimensions, and gravitational waves in the shape of spacetime. Her previous books include How the Universe Got Its Spots and a novel, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, which won the PEN/Bingham Prize. She was recently named a Guggenheim fellow.

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Read more from The Well:
Few of us desire true equality. It’s time to own up to it
The case for “dusking”: In a world of light and noise, embracing the dark can be healing
Respect alchemy. The crazy, criminal pursuit gave us modern science

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About The Well
Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds.

Together, let's learn from them.

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[dylanconner]

I love black holes. There is literally nothing else more extreme that we know of, both terrifying and amazing. An absolute existential dread. I reeeeaaally hope I'm alive to see us fully understand them, they're what got me interested in space as a kid!

[kielvostro]

I thought when we enter the black hole we can go to Murph's room and touch the books?

[denzeldl]

You can also find these black holes in between the seats of your car. 🕳️

[journeywithin]

“Energy cannot be created or destroyed on transferred” so maybe all the consolidation of matter or energy ends up so packed that it explodes on another side, perhaps another dimension, and creates its own universe like a Big Bang.

[ryandubyah]

This is easily one of the best videos of this nature that I’ve watched. Factual, clearly spoken and NOT by a robot voice. To the point. I really enjoyed this one, thank you!

[AviatorJ]

From what I understand (and I've only taken two upper level astrophysics courses), she's describing black holes from the point of view of relativistic physics regarding singularities. Relativity (specifically general relativity) says a black hole is infinite density in infinitely small space (or as she rephrases, is no longer space at all), but quantum physics requires a finite number, a specific definition of density and spatial dimensions. It has to be a point with measurement on some scale. Of course, one issue in physics is that quantum mechanics is the most verified, most exact aspect of physics we have, and while we're sure Einstein's relativity isn't complete, it's also very well proven on large scales (particularly velocity, gravity, and their relationship with space-time), yet we can't get quantum and relativistic physics to meet. In the very large, we use relativity to a very accurate degree; in the very small, quantum measurements are extremely precise. Where they meet, we can't yet resolve. So in that way, her description of black holes as infinite singularities makes sense, but it isn't the only way to view them.

[artdonovandesign]

I got Dr. Levin's book as soon as it came out. It's fantastic! REAL physics- not dumbed down yet eminently understandable to the non-physicist.

I came to know of Dr. Levin from her memorable segments on the PBS 'Nova' episode, "Inside Einstein's Mind" - which is a MUST WATCH. It's one of the finest physics/science specials you'll ever enjoy.

Best to All. 😊

[quantumxfluxmd]

Blackholes were one of the main things as a child that got me so heavily interested into astronomy and physics. Coolest object or "place" 😉 ever.

[duprie]

It helps to think of the singularity as an event in the future rather than just a place in space. There's no escaping that point just like there's absolutely no escaping the fact that you'll reach next Wednesday 2PM no matter what you do. You're drawn inexorably towards it, travelling there through time at the speed of light in fact (if you're at rest with respect to space). Moreover, next Wednesday 2PM you'll be at a specific location in space also and likewise, no matter what you do you cannot avoid arriving at that location whatever it turns out to be: true you may get a choice about its geographical coordinates, but it has to be _some place_ in spacetime & that _some place_ is absolutely where you'll find yourself 2PM next Wednesday, just like it is with a singularity.

[jeffreyraia]

Thank you for taking something so complex and putting it into layman's terms.

[xxgmzvv]

Science of the highest order explained with simplicity. Good video 🙏

[PositiveEnergy]

To everyone reading this, I sincerely pray for that whatever is causing you pain or stress will pass. May your negative thoughts, excessive worries and doubts disappear, replaced by clarity and understanding. May your life be filled with peace, tranquility and love

[oliverbyrne]

This woman explains it more exquisitely than I've ever heard.

[justicegear]

I really liked the part where she says “the black hole is like a lens”. It offers you additional perspective that has been otherwise never really explained as such. Very nice.

[DougRM]

I envy people who can see a set of equations with symbols I don’t even know how to pronounce… and instead of seeing symbols they see black holes and stars and space… truly remarkable.

[usmh]

The interesting thing about black holes is that they're "nothing..." but nothing doesn't exert gravity. If all matter that enters is changed into non-matter, then the black hole can't exert their power through a particle, like the graviton for gravity or the photon for electromagnetic radiation. So what "drives" black holes?

[elmoyou]

Great story telling; great personality and charisma too.

[sammyfx]

What a calm and soothing explain, suddenly i feel all my problems are so trivia

[musicman]

I’ve always thought of black holes as the “stuff” that makes up the outside of our universe. For example, if you take a regular rubber birthday balloon and wet the inside and tie off the end, then you try to stretch it out into a sphere, it’s impossible. Unless you poke tiny holes that allows air to replace the space that’s created during expansion. Maybe black holes are the holes in our ever expanding balloon. I know that’s not what scientists think, but I’ve always thought it was a cool idea.

[michaeldebidart]

I recently came across a Nova documentary about black holes hosted by Dr. Levin and I was instantly drawn to her charm and enthusiasm. I’ve been reading up on her and to echo a comment on another video, if intellectuals were as celebrated as movie stars or athletes, she would be an absolute legend.