Event

Aug 31, 2023
Shaping a Concept - A Historical Perspective on the Public Perception of Black Holes

A cosmic drain, a galactic vacuum cleaner, a planet eater, a portal to another universe, a black hole in space—one of the best ways to explain an intricate theory to the general audience is through analogies, and they were heavily used to spread the word about the most intriguing astrophysical concept of the second half of the 20th century. But when and why black holes became these black holes? We will explore these questions from a historical perspective, trying to understand how black holes were shaped in people’s minds and their influence over future scientific endeavors.

Address
MPIWG, Harnackstraße 5, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Room
Villa, Room V005/Seminar Room
Contact and Registration

Link to the Zoom-Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94690790127 Meeting-ID: 946 9079 0127 no registration required. For more information contact Kseniia Mohelsky officeblum@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de

About This Series

The seminar series of the Research Group “Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program” runs once a month, usually on a Monday at 14:00 in the seminar room of the Villa (Harnackstraße 5). The talks deal primarily with the history, philosophy, and foundations of modern (post-WWII) physics or with wider epistemological questions related to the work of the group. There are no pre-circulated papers.

2023-08-31T11:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2023-08-31 11:00:00 2023-08-31 13:00:00 Shaping a Concept - A Historical Perspective on the Public Perception of Black Holes A cosmic drain, a galactic vacuum cleaner, a planet eater, a portal to another universe, a black hole in space—one of the best ways to explain an intricate theory to the general audience is through analogies, and they were heavily used to spread the word about the most intriguing astrophysical concept of the second half of the 20th century. But when and why black holes became these black holes? We will explore these questions from a historical perspective, trying to understand how black holes were shaped in people’s minds and their influence over future scientific endeavors. MPIWG, Harnackstraße 5, 14195 Berlin, Germany Villa, Room V005/Seminar Room MPRG Final Theory Program MPRG Final Theory Program Europe/Berlin public