Black holes are places, not things | Janna Levin

Janna Levin is a distinguished theoretical cosmologist and a professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College, Columbia University. With a Ph.D. from MIT, Levin has dedicated her career to exploring the intricacies of the universe, specializing in the theory of black holes, the cosmology of extra dimensions, and the sound of spacetime. Beyond her academic achievements, she is also a highly acclaimed author, known for making complex scientific concepts accessible to the public through her books, such as "How the Universe Got Its Spots" and "Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space." Levin's work not only contributes to our understanding of the cosmos but also bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and cultural discourse, making her a pivotal figure in both the scientific community and the broader sphere of science communication.

[madanielle]

For those who don't understand, there is indeed an object causing this phenomena, but it isn't the "black hole". The object is called "singularity", an incredibly small but dense object which creates a strong pull of gravity around it. But the "black hole" is more of a place or an area affected by that singularity, like a huge whirlpool in space.

Edit: after reading many responses correcting my statement, I want to clarify that I was wrong by calling the singularity an "object". From what many experts said, the singularity is the point where our math stops working, so right now it's still unknown what the "singularity" really is, only that it is probably the cause of the strong pull of gravity.

[jumboegg]

The misconception is the one described in the video. The singularity is simply a mathematical concept where the mathematics are undefined. The mathematics describing a blackhole approaches zero, but never quite gets there. Mathematical singularities are a common occurence in mathematics, look it up. At the centre of the blackhole, the maths is undefined and they have given it the name "the singularity"

[dcjohnson]

As an old retired scientist (octogenarian) I love reading the comments of young people debating such complex but elegantly simple topics. I’ve pondered these questions for more than 6.5 decades. Allow me to illustrate my first epiphany. It may help you understand more about which you are debating. When I was in 11th grade Chemistry class I suddenly realized that a head on collision of an electron and a positron cancelled themselves out completely. No residual energy or subatomic particles or gamma rays or anything (as I say below in a follow on comment, this was my FIRST epiphany I became well aware later what is given off) This defined, for me, that “something “ and “nothing” are the same thing like water and ice. That must mean “nothing” decays into something? Once I could wrap my head around “nothing “, and i understood higher mathematics I was able to show basically +1-1=0. Positron and electron cancel to “0” which represents “nothing “ or a singularity where matter became nothing and also where nothing became something (Big Bang which is really the big expansion from a singularity). As I advance in age and my health is failing I realize I may not be able to complete my silent work and all will become naught.

[verborgenewahrheit]

You cannot make something out of nothing and nothing from something. Energy can neither be destroyed nor created. It can only be transformed

[capricornus]

Definitely gave me a new perspective on black holes, interesting!

[Hoigwai]

It is important to know that this is spoken as if we have proven it. We haven't. We have zero idea what is beyond the event horizon. All we know for certain is that black holes exist, we now have pictures and can see how they affect objects around them. Other than that we are in unknown territory.

[dopo]

Actually, recent theories are that black holes are not singularities.

[damienbates]

You’ll also need to define what you mean by “nothing” and empty space? Colloquially that has a very different meaning for most people. But in this case, it is “something” just not something we can measure or detect.

[Happy.Viewer]

I think, we are on the way to understand Black Holes, Black Matters, Singularities and may discover more and more things of the Universe as well. Because we still do not have any thing and Machine to check/measure/test them like we know about such Matters as Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, ... We still have Time...be patient. 🎉❤ Good luck everyone. And welcome all Ideas, Theories and Imaginations.

[gulzarrai]

Thanks to Jenna Levin ... Pl continue to clear the fog in our minds about what Black Holes are all about ... 😮✔️

[Jollyprez]

Black holes came about from an error in the mathematics which is studiously ignored by cosmologists because they're so cool.

[DrZaheerAbbas]

Well if you take space beyond the event horizon yeah Its a place but at singularity its not a place, one way to understand the space around black like is like a funnel moving from event horizon to sigularity/ ringularity the space itself reduces and eventually reduced to infinitely small . So in Summary it is a space around black hole but at the black hole itself it's not just empty space, an empty space would never generate that insane amount of space time curve, all we can say is we've something which in infinitely dense that we cant comprehend at those scales besides most of modern physicist would agree the space beyond event horizon is not a place it's a time in future and outside event horizon is a time in past, as there's linear flow of time thats why it's inevitable to fall towards singularity once an object crosses the event horizon as the object moves from past to future .

[dlsamson]

I believe that the challenge is the act of trying to conceptualize a thing which does not conform to anything in our normal human experience. If you are smart enough, you can describe its behavior but trying to describe the "thing" is pointless.

[nockzilla]

It’s so incredibly interesting to try and conceive of an idea or a thing (such as a black hole) that our brains were likely never even meant to know exists, let alone try to comprehend what it is. I feel so grateful to live in a time where we have the ability to try and make sense of something so inconceivable that it may actually be just beyond the edge of what is knowable to human consciousness.

[jeffhoward]

A singularity is where our math breaks down, not reality. It is likely NOT empty space, but the super dense remnant of a star. There is no observation that indicates black holes create gravity out of nothing.

[christianeaster]

I understand the concept she is talking about, but it is to me and most people a matter of semantics. My house I live in is a place, but also thing.

[luke.dethomas]

The black hole is not nothing it's material crushed so densely that it takes up almost no space

[leachblah]

It’s kind of bold of her to think of them like that. Rotating black holes(probably every BH) might not have a point singularity at all. It’s even hypothesized that they have a completely normal hollow space-time inside of them.

[robinhodson]

Mathematical singularities don't exist in the physical world. There is an object left there, and it causes a gravity well. The two go together.

[verbedr]

The biggest mistake, I think, is that we assume it is dense because light can't escape due to gravity. What if light can be attracted by something else than gravity? What if some type of magnetic interaction is possible that lenses light?

Never mind, just think in the void without all the knowledge that experts like Janna has. My deepest respect to her and everyone in the team. Love it that they take the time to teach.